Embu: It is a relief for muguka farmers from Embu County following the withdrawal of a bill seeking to remove the stimulant from the category of scheduled crops that could have denied it state protection.
According to Kenya News Agency, the move followed intervention by Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki after a meeting with the sponsor of the Anti-Muguka Bill, Kilifi North MP Owen Baya, on Wednesday morning. He made the announcement while opening the first National Macadamia Conference 2025 at the University of Embu Grounds in Embu Town.
The Crops Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, which he said had already sailed through the first reading in the National Assembly, could have spelt doom for thousands of farmers who rely on it for upkeep. 'The sponsor has graciously agreed to drop the piece of legislation. We have been looking for a solution to this matter because we do not want to destroy this value chain, which is quite critical to our economy,' he said.
On Tuesday, the DP met with leaders from Embu, including Governor Cecily Mbarire and elected lawmakers, seeking a solution to the muguka impasse that was threatening the economic stability of farmers that rely on its sale and proceeds. He hailed the leaders for persistently seeking a solution to the issue to save farmers.
Leaders from the coastal counties have been agitating for the delisting of the crop, citing adverse effects on consumers, with some governors even banning its sale last year, which attracted protests from farmers. Embu leaders led by Governor Mbarire vehemently opposed the bill, claiming it was discriminatory and done in bad faith.
She said the bill was seeking to outlaw muguka alone, leaving behind miraa yet the two belong to the same khat (Catha Edulis) family. The leaders argued that there was no scientific evidence to prove that the stimulant was a drug.