Relief for muguka farmers as MP Owen Baya withdraws controversial bill

Simon Musyimi in his muguka farm in Gachuriri Village, Mbeere South Sub-county in Embu County [Nanjinia Wamuswa/Standard]

Muguka farmers can finally breathe a sigh of relief after Kilifi North MP Owen Baya agreed to withdraw a controversial legislative proposal that sought to differentiate muguka from miraa and delist muguka from Kenya's scheduled crops under the Crops Act.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce the development, confirming that a meeting had taken place at Karen, Nairobi, with the MP.

"Following a request from elected leaders in Embu County, I met Hon. Owen Baya, sponsor of the private member's bill that sought to delete Catha edulis (muguka) from the Schedule to the Crops Act. The Hon. Baya has graciously accepted to drop his legislative proposal," Kindiki posted.