Miraa and Muguka biggest cause of insecurity in NEP region - Fafi MP

Fafi MP Salah Yakub has claimed that miraa and muguka use is one of the biggest contributors to insecurity in Northeastern region and should be completely banned.

“Miraa, muguka and insecurity are synonymous to one another. Stop one you stop the rest, you legalise one you have legalised the other,” the MP  said.

Yakub was speaking in his constituency where he commissioned water  projects among community settlements along the Lapsset corridor.

The MP added that people involved in terrorist activities were hooked on drugs, including muguka.

“The terrorists use these stimulants to lure our boys into these terrorists groups. Those who use them combine with prescribed drugs. The end result is the insecurity you witness happening in our region.” 

Mombasa, Kilifi and Taita Taveta governors have banned the entry, transportation, distribution, sale, and use of muguka within their counties.

However, the ban has been temporarily suspended by the High Court in Embu, as the debate for and against the product rages on. 

Leaders from Embu, where the stimulant is grown, support the trade, while those from regions where muguka is heavily consumed are calling for its total ban.

Fafi constituency is among those that has been badly affected by insecurity, Yakub said, adding that if the government was serious on addressing insecurity and terrorism then it should start by banning the two stimulants.

The stimulant has completely destroyed homes and families, he said, and is the biggest source of divorce, school dropout rates and unemployment in the community.

“As an MP from this region I want to send a passionate appeal and request to his Excellency President William Ruto to give support to the people of coast and Northeastern on this matter."

Yakub said while he understands that the stimulants have been a source of income for the people of Meru and Embu, the government should find an alternative, and substitute growing muguka with crops that are beneficial to human beings "not stimulants that are destroying livelihoods".

 “As much as we are supporting the President in making sure that the economy of this country grows, legalising muguka is to a larger extent detrimental and is doing more harm than good to our people and country at large.”

He said contrary to the narrative being advanced that the miraa and muguka trade had created hundreds of jobs, manpower was negatively affected, since the productivity of those who use the stimulant is low.

The negative effects experienced from use of the stimulants include delusions, loss of appetite, difficulty in breathing, increased blood pressure and heart rate, liver damage and cardiac complications.

Yakub further took issue with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's silence on the matter, asking him to speak out.

The UDA MP called on Gachagua to convene a forum that will bring together stakeholders from Northeastern and Coast, with the view of finding a lasting solution.

“I normally support the Deputy President. He is my leader and one thing I admire about him is speaking his mind and being truthful. But with all due respect he needs to be consistent and lead from the front and not to be a leader of one region.”