Business activities along the bustling Embu-Meru highway came to a grinding halt on Friday, May 24, 2024, as hundreds of muguka traders and farmers took to the streets to protest the recent ban on the sale of miraa (khat) in Mombasa and Kilifi Counties.
The demonstrators, who decried the move as devastating to their livelihoods, blocked the highway, causing massive traffic jams and disrupting daily commerce.
The decision to ban Miraa, a stimulant crop widely chewed in the region, was announced by the county governments of Mombasa and Kilifi this week, citing health concerns and increasing social problems associated with the consumption of the crop. However, the traders and farmers argued that the ban was abrupt and lacked consultation with stakeholders who depend on Muguka for their income.
"We were not given a chance to present our views, the authorities just made this decision without considering how it would affect thousands of families who rely on this trade," Gibson Kariuki, a muguka trader from Runyenjes lamented.
The protesters, carrying placards and chanting slogans, called for an immediate reversal of the ban. They argued that muguka is a major economic driver in the region, supporting numerous ancillary businesses, from transport to retail. Local markets, usually teeming with activity, remained deserted as traders stayed away in solidarity.
The farmers explained that the cultivation of muguka is not just a business but a way of life for many in the area.
"This crop has been our lifeline for generations. It's what pays for our children's education, our medical bills, and puts food on our tables," Samuel Gitonga, an agitated farmer said.
Stranded travellers
Long-distance travellers were stranded for hours as vehicles were unable to navigate the blocked highway. The ripple effect was evident in the supply chain, with perishable goods stuck in transit and deliveries delayed.
Lobbyist Mwaniki Kirangacha read malice in the ban, alleging that it was hatched to protect the hard drug business at the coast that had been dealt a blow by muguka.
He said there is no provision in law where Muguka has been cited as an illegal drug, calling for the immediate revocation of the ban.
County leaders who joined the protesters called for calm as they tried to seek intervention through a court order.
"We are engaging all the avenues to find a mutually beneficial solution," Embu senator Alexander Mundigi said.
Mundigi assured farmers that he had hired a lawyer who would argue the case of muguka in court, saying the issue is in the Senate, where they are working to see it included in the Narcotic Drug Act.
Embu Deputy Governor Kinyua Mugo and Embu Women Representative Pamela Njoki Njeru said it was unfair to ban the sale of muguka in those counties.
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