Mombasa now a muguka free zone
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has declared a total ban on the entry, transportation, sale, purchase, and consumption of muguka in the Coastal County.
Addressing the press at Port Reitz Sub County Hospital in Mombasa, Nassir emphasised that the decision aims “to salvage a generation” rather than harm anyone’s business.
“From today, the last point of selling muguka will be at the borders of this County. All the vehicles transporting muguka will be turned away from today,” he stated, adding that he is prepared for a legal battle if the decision is challenged in court.
Nassir cited legal grounds for the ban, noting that two chemical compounds in muguka, cathine and cathinone, are potent and banned substances in the country. Interestingly, the ban is exclusive to muguka and does not extend to Khat, despite both being stimulants with similar effects.
To deal with withdrawal effects, Nassir said a number of institutions have been identified across the county to handle addicts.
The Governor explained that the move is a collective agreement with leaders from the entire coastal region. Prior to the ban, he discussed the matter with local legislators, who agreed to push for more stringent laws in the national assembly.
Nassir highlighted evidence showing that muguka has adversely affected children as young as nine years old. “Data from various health institutions and anti-drug CSOs, including MEWA, Mombasa Women Empowerment for Mental Health Treatment and Rehabilitation, NACADA, and Reach out Centre Trust, indicate that the rate of those suffering from mental health issues has doubled this year compared to last year, and the year is not even halfway through,” he said.
Mental health
The governor pointed out that in every 100 mental health patients in Mombasa rehabilitation centres, 80 are muguka addicts, with 30 new patients daily attributed to the stimulant. Dr Janbibi Yusuf, a psychiatrist at Women Empowerment for Mental Health Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre in Miritini, explained muguka’s severe mental health impacts: “Consumption leads to psychosis, disrupting thoughts and perceptions. Patients lose self-awareness, sometimes soiling themselves, needing diapers.” She added that the chemical compounds cathine and cathinone are potent narcotics. “Though these compounds are banned, muguka remains legal, cheap, and destructive.”
Dr Yusuf also noted the broader impacts: “Addicts waste hours, unable to function without it. It causes psychological dependency.” She warned of the stimulants allure leading users to other drugs, seeking respite from sleepless nights. The consequences extend beyond the mind, with common symptoms including mood swings, high blood pressure, heart rate spikes, and stomach issues.
“The effects creep in unnoticed,” she warned, leading to broken families, wasted lives, and enduring regret. The conflict between the Mombasa County government and miraa (khat)/muguka traders has escalated in recent weeks as Governor Nassir enforces stricter measures on the sale and use of the stimulant within the county.
Last week, the county imposed regulations restricting public service vehicle (PSV) operators from using miraa while on duty, aiming to improve road safety and reduce associated social problems.
The decision followed a ban on selling miraa and muguka within 100 meters of schools and religious centres. Additionally, the county increased cess fees from Sh50,000 to Sh80,000 per vehicle, sparking strong reactions from leaders in khat and muguka growing regions.
The stance against muguka comes amid mounting pressure from Meru and Embu leadership. Last week, Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire and Meru Senator Kathuri Murungi, accompanied by county assembly members, toured Mombasa to discuss the matter with Governor Nassir.
In a tense four-hour meeting with the Meru leadership at his office, Governor Nassir expressed a willingness to work with the Assembly to pass local legislation regulating the trade of miraa/muguka, designating specific areas for sale. Mombasa Members of Parliament also vowed to pass national legislation to ban khat, which is currently classified as a cash crop under national laws.
Mombasa County officials have linked various side effects of the stimulants, including mood changes, aggressiveness, anxiety, and depression, to an increase in juvenile gang activities in the area.
