Mombasa Governor Demands Parliamentary Action to Reclassify Muguka as Harmful Drug

Nassir links half of substance abuse cases to muguka consumption, urges coastal legislators to champion ban

MOMBASA – Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir has issued an urgent appeal to Kenya’s parliament to strip muguka of its cash crop designation and reclassify it as a harmful substance, citing devastating health impacts on the coastal region’s youth population.

Addressing congregants during a Sunday church service in Mombasa, the county chief described muguka as a critical public health threat requiring immediate legislative intervention to safeguard communities and younger generations.

The governor presented alarming statistics indicating that approximately half of all substance abuse cases in the region involve muguka consumption, with the problem extending to school-age children. He specifically called upon coastal region parliamentarians to introduce legislation banning the product’s entry into their constituencies.

“I am appealing to our legislative representatives to pursue amendments that formally remove muguka from cash crop schedules and categorize it as a dangerous drug,” Governor Nassir stated. “We require determined action at the national level to protect our communities and children.”

Hospital Admissions Surge Linked to Muguka

The governor highlighted that illicit alcohol, often cited as a primary concern in other regions, represents a secondary issue in Mombasa compared to muguka. He revealed that during a three-month period spanning July through September, more than half of hospital admissions were connected to muguka use.

“Mombasa’s primary challenge is not illegal brewing—it is muguka,” Nassir emphasized. “This product provides no nutritional value, yet our children are suffering its consequences. We will accept many things, but not muguka.”

The governor’s remarks came in the wake of President William Ruto’s recent announcement proposing severe penalties for drug trafficking operations. While expressing unconditional support for the president’s anti-narcotics stance, Nassir extended the call to include muguka regulation.

Notably, the governor pointed out that Mombasa County’s consumption levels exceed those of producing regions, urging farmers to redirect their agricultural efforts toward beneficial crops rather than destructive ones. He called for unified stakeholder support in his campaign to prohibit the substance.

Understanding Muguka and Health Implications

Muguka represents a specific variety of khat, cultivated predominantly in Embu County. Unlike miraa, where users chew young stems or twigs, muguka consumption involves only the leaves of the plant.

Medical experts warn that sustained muguka use carries serious health consequences including anxiety disorders, depression, elevated blood pressure, and heightened cardiovascular risks. Male users may experience reproductive complications, while pregnant women face risks of delivering low birth weight infants. Health authorities additionally caution that the substance damages liver and kidney function.

Economic Considerations and Legal Challenges

Despite health concerns, muguka maintains legal status as a complex stimulant and serves as a significant income source for agricultural communities. The crop supports approximately 65,000 farming families and generates substantial revenue for Kenya’s economy. In Mombasa alone, daily trading levies from muguka sales approach Ksh1 million.

Coastal counties have launched multiple attempts to prohibit muguka sale and distribution, but judicial rulings have consistently overturned these local bans. Most recently, parliamentary legislation aimed at removing the product from cash crop classifications was withdrawn following intervention by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.

The renewed push by Governor Nassir represents the latest chapter in an ongoing regional debate balancing economic interests against public health imperatives, with stakeholders on both sides maintaining firm positions on the controversial substance.