Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir has called on members of parliament to classify muguka as a harmful substance and formally remove the product from the list of cash crops.
Speaking in Mombasa during a church service on Sunday, January 4, the county boss stated that the product posed a serious threat to youths, especially in Mombasa County, noting that decisive national action is required to protect families and future generations.
He noted that almost half of those affected by drug and substance abuse were affected by muguka, including school-going children. The governor called on the legislature from the coastal region to table a motion in parliament to ban the product from entering the region.
"I urge our legislators to consider legislative amendments to formally eliminate Muguka from the schedule of cash crops and classify it as a harmful drug. We need decisive national action to protect our families and future generations," Nassir stated.
"The problem in Mombasa is not illicit brew; our main problem is muguka. In July, August and September, over 50 per cent of those admitted to hospitals are because of this product. We will not accept. Feed us everything but not muguka. It has no vitamins, and our children are getting affected," he added.
His comments followed President William Ruto's call for serious penalties for drug traffickers and peddlers. The governor, while supporting the president's call, also called for the regulation of muguka, noting that Mombasa County consumed the product more than those who produce it.
He urged the farmers to convert the farms for the product for constructiveness and not to be destructive, calling on all stakeholders to support his quest to illegalise muguka. On President Ruto's proposal of serious action against drug traffickers, the governor pledged full support, noting that the county supported the proposal unconditionally.
Muguka, primarily known as khat, is a specific variety mainly grown in Embu County, and only the leaves are harvested and chewed. Its distinction from miraa is that in muguka, only leaves are chewed, while in miraa, young stems or twigs are chewed.
Prolonged use of the product is said to cause anxiety, depression, high blood pressure and even an increased risk of heart attack. In men, it can lead to impotency, and it is also linked with low birth weight in pregnant women. Health officials also warn that its use is toxic to the liver and kidneys.
Muguka is classified as a legal complex stimulant and is a major economic driver for its farmers. It supports close to 65,000 farmers and has earned the country billions of shillings. In Mombasa, for instance, it generates close to Ksh1 million daily in levies from its sale.
Counties in the coast region have previously attempted to ban the sale and distribution, efforts that have been constantly rejected by the courts.
In June 2025, a legislative proposal seeking to remove the product from the list of cash crops was withdrawn following the intervention of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
