Governors from the Coast counties have declined a meeting with President William Ruto on Tuesday, to discuss their ban on Muguka.
In a statement on Sunday, the Governors said they needed more time to consult other elected leaders from the region.
The governors said this would also allow them to engage the public on the matter before they have a sit down with President William Ruto.
“Governors from the Coast today made public that they are in receipt of communication from State House inviting them for a meeting to deliberate on the issue of Muguka with their counterparts from Meru, Tharaka Nithi and Embu.
“The leaders met today at the Mombasa Beach Hotel hosted by Governor Nassir to consult other elected leaders from the Coast given their perspective that this issue affects the whole of society,” they said.
Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei had in a letter dated June 13 invited the leaders for a consultative meeting on the matter.
The meeting was scheduled to take place on Tuesday, June 18 at State House.
The leaders present at their consultative meeting on Sunday included Governors Nassir (Mombasa), Gideon Mungaro (Kilifi), Major (Rtd) Dhadho Godhana (Tana River) and Issa Timamy (Lamu).
Senators Mwinyihaji Faki (Mombasa) and Danson Mungatana (Tana River) as well as MPs Mishi Mboko (Likoni) and Rashid Bedzimba (Kisauni) also participated with a host of leaders participating virtually.
In a separate statement, Governor Nassir said that the President must exclusively engage all coast leaders including the County Assemblies leadership before any meeting with other parties.
Earlier this month, the governors and MPs declined to meet Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi over the ban on Muguka.
The Coast governors accused the Ministry of Agriculture of protecting the socio-economics of muguka-producing counties.
The governors asked the President to, instead, lead any further consultations on the ban.
They pointed out that Ruto had held meetings with the leadership of Muguka producing counties and Central Kenya leadership prior to issuing the directive to hold talks.
Linturi then invited lawmakers from the Coast region for the meeting that was scheduled for June 6, 2024, at Maanzoni Lodge but they also declined.