Kilifi North MP Baya withdraws controversial anti-Muguka Bill

Kilifi North Member of Parliament Owen Baya has withdrawn a Bill seeking to delist Muguka from the scheduled crops category under the law.

The anti-Muguka Bill tabled in parliament last month posed a potential risk to farmers, proposing a change to the Crop Act, differentiating the stimulant from miraa.

In a statement on Wednesday, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the decision was arrived at after he met Baya at his Karen residence.

"Following the request from Embu County leaders, I met Owen Baya, sponsor of the private member’s bill that sought to delete Cathus edulis (Muguuka) from the Schedule to the Crops Act. Baya has graciously agreed to drop his legislative proposal,” stated Kindiki.

The Crops Act, enacted in 2013, provides for the certification, regulation, and support of scheduled crops across their value chains to ensure industry standards and quality.

If the proposal were to be implemented, it would have removed legal protection and State support for the stimulant.

“The principal object of the Bill is to amend the Crops Act Cap 318 to differentiate muguka from miraa and therefore expressly exclude Muguka from being a scheduled crop,” read the proposed law.

Notably, all scheduled crops under the Act receive government attention through mandatory certification, national market structures, research, and extension services.

The crops are also eligible for state subsidies.

The Bill was tabled after prolonged tension between Coastal and Eastern counties over the Muguka trade.

Coastal counties had repeatedly called for tighter restrictions or outright bans on muguka, citing public health and social concerns.