Jumuiya Ya Kaunti Za Pwani Declines Meeting with Agriculture CS Over Muguka Issue.
Jumuiya Ya Kaunti Za Pwani Declines Meeting with Agriculture CS Over Muguka Issue: Governors of six-member Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani Economic Bloc, representing Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River, Lamu and Taita Taveta Counties collectively decline invitation to meet with Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi on June 6th, 2024.
The Statement Read
Receive greetings and compliments from the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani. We make reference to your letter ref. no. MOALD/CS/CRO/4 (16) and dated May 31st, 2024 on the above subject.
We regret to inform you that the six-member County Governments of Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani Economic Bloc duly represented by the undersigned Governors, jointly decline to attend the proposed forum scheduled for June 6th, 2024.
Excellency Governors of Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River, Lamu and Taita Taveta led their Counties to hold various consultations with the public and leaders culminating to the following conclusions and joint resolutions:
1. As the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, you have publicly pronounced yourself on the Constitutional and legal positions taken by Mombasa, Kilifi and Taita County Governors to ban Muguka (Gazette Notice 6482 of Executive Order NO.1 of 2024). According to your statements dated 29th May, 2024, your Ministry’s position is one of protecting the socio- economics of the producing Counties. Recognizing Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani as a consuming region with interests on both socio-economic and health security, we respectfully conclude that you are constrained in being an impartial arbiter on this subject.
2. Recognizing that the ban of Muguka in the Jumuiya ya Kaunti region has ignited a national public debate and pronouncements by the Executive, Judiciary, legislative and the entire 47 County Governments, we conclude that this matter is of extraordinary public interest.
3. Considering that the Head of State has held meetings with the Muguka producing County Governments, Central Kenya leadership and issued directions on 29th May, 2024; and whereas various Cabinet Secretaries and senior National Government officers have made conflicting statements as to the position of the Executive; therefore, Jumuiya ya Kaunti concludes and requests, that further consultations on this matter be led by the Head of State.
4. Furthermore, it would be prudent to include other key stakeholders on the matter such as National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse, the Ministry of Health and the various Security agencies as well as the Civil Society, since the matter is not just Agricultural in nature.
5. As Consumer Counties, we are negatively affected by the sale of Miraa/Muguka in terms of Health, Security as well as Economically. It is critical that this discussion puts the global picture in perspective. Cathine and Cathinone, the active ingredients present in both crops, are prohibited under the current Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act 1994.
The National Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) currently classifies Miraa as a psychotropic substance because of these active ingredients. Moreover, it is important to note that, Cathine and Cathinone are banned substances in a number of countries worldwide including Tanzania, Uganda, China, Europe, United States, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and Canada speaking to the global acknowledgment of the harmful effects of the substances.
6. Fundamentally, scientific statistics conducted done by the Mombasa Women Empowerment Network Mental Health Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre, ReachOut Rehabilitation Center, Port Reitz Hospital and the NACADA Rehabilitation Center since 2021 to 2024, found that 550 patients living with mental health conditions in this calendar year to date, out of 700 (or 82%) were found to be abusing Muguka. This trend is replicated across all Coastal Counties and gives us as leaders, just cause for concern for the wellbeing of our people.
7. Studies further indicate that owing to the relatively short harvest time of Muguka compared to Miraa, the cheap cost makes the drug easily accessible to minors.
With these conclusions and extraordinary regional joint resolutions by the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani made in good faith to the public and Constitutional duty to our County Governments; we request and invite your support towards a consultative meeting with the head of State to include the Cabinet Secretaries of Health, Internal Security and Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet, copied herein.
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