Aasai

Muguka farmers and traders from the Mt Kenya region are urging Members of Parliament to reject a proposed bill seeking to delist the crop as a scheduled agricultural product. The Crops (Amendment) Bill, introduced by Kilifi North MP Owen Baya, aims to reclassify muguka as a narcotic due to its stimulant compounds, which some studies link to mental health issues.

The bill has gained backing from coastal leaders, but muguka growers fear it would devastate their livelihoods. Traders like Samuel Chomba from Kirinyaga warned that passing the bill would be tantamount to “economic sabotage” for thousands who rely on muguka farming to educate their children and support their families.

In Embu County, where over 36,000 kilos of muguka are sold daily, farmers say the crop fuels the local economy with up to Sh10.8 million generated every day. Leaders like Leonard Muthende have expressed concern that their interests may go unrepresented in Parliament, as their area MP now serves in the Cabinet.

Farmers dismissed claims linking muguka to infertility and called on President William Ruto to honour his promise to support small-scale agriculture. “This is a crop that feeds households, pays school fees, and creates jobs. Undermining it will destabilize entire communities,” said Kathuri Nganjire.