Legislator in call to arrest miraa, muguka users

The fight against the consumption of miraa and muguka has taken a fresh twist after Coast leaders told Mombasa county governor Abdulswamad Nassir to crackdown on individuals consuming the commodities.

Led by Mombasa County MP Zamzam Mohammed, the leaders said there is need to amend the law to categorise miraa and muguka as a drug as their effects are bad for  human consumption.

While addressing a press conference in Parliament, Zamzam raised concern over the  rising numbers of rehabilitation centers in Mombasa County which  as a result of abuse of the two commodities.

 “Muguka chewing has become a serious issue in our community, contributing to increased rates of addiction, domestic violence, and poor health,” she said.

 “We need to take a  decisive action as leaders and the county security team to protect our people, particularly the youth, from the devastating effects of this substance and let it be on record that Mombasa is not a rehabilitation center where the only booming business or investment one can think of is a rehab center.”

In her statement Zamzam told Governor Nassir to stand firm and end the usage of muguka in Mombasa as this is the only way youths would  be saved.

She further recommended that regulations be put in place to help those affected by the substance.

She said: “We cannot simply ban Muguuka without offering alternatives and we don’t have rehabilitation programs in Mombasa since the more we have the rehab centers in Mombasa, the more we are advocating for the usage and abuse of drugs in educational campaigns and economic support for farmers who depend on khat cultivation for their livelihoods.”

She added: “I am urging my governor, and this is not a fight of supremacy but changing the lives of our people for the future generation, and we shall at all times implement regulations and controls on Miraa consumption.”