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| Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi |
Six governors from coastal region including Mombasa, Kwale, Taita Taveta, and Kwale, hav e rejected an invitation by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi invitation to discuss and resolve Muguka issue. Six coastal counties under the chairmanship of Governor Gideon Mung’aro (l), has declined an invitation from CS Linturi(r) to chat a way forward for Muguka. In a statement released on Monday, June 3, the governors said they will not attend the meeting scheduled for Thursday, June 6. “As Governors of the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za.Pwani bringing together Mombasa, Kilifi, Taita Taveta, Kwale, and Lamu, we have jointly resolved to politely decline the invitation to meet with the Hon. Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture on the issue of Muguka this Thursday,” the Mombasa governor stated. Why did the governors decline the invitation? According to the governors, Muguka is not only an agriculture issue but also a health and security issue. “Muguka is simply an agricultural issue; it is a matter of health, well-being, and, indeed, the security of our people and needs to be treated with the seriousness it deserves,” he stated What are the reasons for the decline of the invitation? In a joint statement signed by the six county chiefs, they claim Linturi already has a fixed mind and was unfit to arbitrate the issue. “According to your statements dated May 29, 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 in both socio-economic and health security, we respectfully conclude that you are constrained in being an impartial arbiter on this subject,” they stated. Secondly, the governors said the matter has stirred a national debate, making it a matter of public interest. “Recognizing that the ban of Muguka in the Junuiya ya Kaunti region has ignited a national public debate and pronouncement by the executive, judiciary, legislative, and the entire 47 county governments, we conclude that this matter is of extraordinary public interest,” they stated. The leaders also said since the issue attracted sentiments from various leaders across political divide and gotten national attention, the region would prefer to hold talks chaired by the president. They demanded the inclusion of other stakeholders, including the National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA), the Ministry of Health, the various security agencies, and the civil Society, since the matter is not solely agricultural in nature. The governors further said the short harvest time of Muguka compared to Miraa, the cheap cost makes the drug easily accessible to minors.
by Sefu Sabila