Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir /HANDOUT
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir has renewed his campaign against muguka, claiming the stimulant is responsible for the majority of admissions in rehabilitation and mental health facilities across the county.
His remarks come amid a long-running debate over whether muguka should be treated as a legal cash crop or classified as a harmful drug.
“Majority of those admitted to rehab centres in Mombasa are there because of Muguka," Nassir said.
The governor made the remarks while defending Mombasa county's push to have muguka classified as a harmful drug rather than an ordinary agricultural product.
He argued that the county is witnessing a growing public health crisis, particularly among young people, which he believes is directly linked to increased consumption of the stimulant.
Nassir's comments are rooted in data and testimonies from rehabilitation centres and mental health facilities in Mombasa.
According to stakeholders in the county's addiction recovery sector, a significant proportion of those seeking treatment suffer from addiction, insomnia, anxiety, depression, aggression and other mental health complications linked to the stimulant.
The governor has repeatedly maintained that muguka poses a serious threat to the wellbeing of young people. In previous statements supporting restrictions on the substance, he argued that:
“It has no medicinal value” and is “a serious threat to the health of young people.”
His position is supported by some rehabilitation centres in Mombasa. Data cited by treatment facilities showed rising numbers of muguka users seeking rehabilitation services, with many patients falling within the 15–25 age bracket.
Some centres reported that a large percentage of their admissions were individuals battling muguka-related addiction and mental health challenges.
The governor's remarks also explain why Mombasa county has been at the forefront of efforts to restrict the sale, transportation and use of muguka.
Nassir argues that the county government has a constitutional responsibility to protect public health and curb substance abuse.
He has consistently linked muguka to school dropouts, family breakdowns, unemployment, homelessness and increased pressure on the county's healthcare system.
The governor's comments come as the national debate over muguka continues, with leaders from producing regions defending it as a legitimate source of income, while leaders from the Coast insist that its social and health consequences outweigh its economic benefits.
For Nassir, the issue remains primarily a public health concern, with rehabilitation centres providing what he considers the clearest evidence of the drug's impact on Mombasa's youth.
