Nairobi, Kenya (May 28, 2024) -In response to the recent bans imposed by some counties on Mūgūka, President William Ruto met with the leadership of Embu County, including Governor Cecily Mbarire, her deputy, the senator, and members of the county assembly.
Agriculture and Livestock Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi also attended the meeting.
During the discussions, President Ruto reaffirmed that Mūgūka is a scheduled crop under the Crops Act 2013 and the Miraa Regulations 2023.
He emphasized that any local laws contradicting national legislation are null and void, reinforcing the government’s commitment to a uniform regulatory framework across the country.
In a significant move to support the farming, promotion, and exportation of Miraa and Mūgūka, the Kenyan government has announced new regulations under the Crops Act 2013.
This comes as part of efforts to address the regional bans that have recently affected these crops in certain counties.
According to a statement from State House, Nairobi, the regulations obligate the government to allocate funds for the comprehensive support of Miraa and Mūgūka.
This includes farming, licensing, promotion, regulation, transportation, aggregation, selling, marketing, and exportation.
The government has earmarked KSh500 million in the 2024/25 financial year for value addition to these crops.
To operationalize the Crops Act 2013, the government has established the Miraa/Mūgūka Pricing Committee, with the Council of Governors nominating three members to this committee.
Additionally, the regulations provide for a Miraa/Mūgūka Standard Code of Practice, aimed at ensuring uniformity and adherence to best practices across the industry.
Consultative Forum and Stakeholder Engagement
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock has been directed to convene a consultative forum to address the concerns raised by various stakeholders regarding the implementation of the Miraa/Mūgūka Regulations 2023.
This initiative seeks to foster dialogue among all parties involved, ensuring that the interests of farmers, aggregators, and exporters are adequately represented and addressed.
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