EMBU, Kenya — When Kithure Kindiki rose to the post of Deputy President last November, farmers in Embu and Meru cheered. They believed one of their own would stand firm for miraa and muguka, two crops that feed families and anchor local economies.
But just months later, a bill moving through Parliament now threatens muguka’s future — and with it, Kindiki’s political fortunes.
The Crops (Amendment) Bill, 2025, tabled by Kilifi North MP Owen Baya, seeks to strike muguka from Kenya’s list of scheduled crops. If passed, the stimulant leaf would lose government protection, including subsidies, research funding, and guaranteed prices.
The bill draws a sharp line between muguka and its botanical cousin miraa, both derived from the catha edulis plant. “We must protect our youth,” Baya said during debate in Parliament. “Muguka is destroying lives and fuelling addiction in the coastal region.”
The move follows bans by Mombasa and Kilifi counties in May last year. Both cited health concerns, claiming muguka contributes to addiction, stomach problems, and poor oral health. Religious leaders and some medical officials backed the bans, calling the stimulant a “slow poison.”
An Uproar from the Highlands
In the hills of Embu, outrage is growing.
“Muguka is our life,” said Benjamin Njeru, a farmer in Runyenjes. “If they remove it from the crops list, they kill our economy.”
Around 100,000 farmers in Embu, Meru, Kirinyaga, and Tharaka-Nithi depend on muguka. The crop brings in roughly Sh22 billion a year, according to agricultural data from the Ministry of Agriculture.
Deputy President Kindiki had promised to defend their interests. While visiting Meru in April, he told farmers: “The government is committed to protecting this sector. Cartels who exploit miraa and muguka growers must go.”
He added that President William Ruto had allocated Sh500 million in the 2024–2025 budget to support scheduled crops. “Farmers deserve fair prices. The Agriculture CS is rolling out minimum returns to ensure this,” Kindiki said.
But now, those assurances appear to be on shaky ground.
Caught Between Competing Interests
Kindiki finds himself in a bind. On one side are the farmers who helped elevate him to national office. On the other are lawmakers, public health advocates, and coastal leaders accusing him of defending a harmful drug.
“It’s a test of leadership,” said Dr Peter Muriuki, a political analyst in Nairobi. “He must show loyalty to his base without ignoring real concerns from other parts of the country.”
There’s also the question of law and precedent. Muguka has long been lumped together with miraa under the Crops Act, which treats both as scheduled crops. Removing muguka would set a new legal course — and possibly encourage similar moves against other contentious crops.
Uncertain Days Ahead
The bill is still in early stages, but its political impact is already being felt.
Farmers are planning demonstrations. Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire has demanded dialogue before any decision is made. “This bill, if passed, will destroy thousands of livelihoods,” she warned.
Kindiki has yet to comment publicly on the bill itself. His office did not respond to requests for comment.
For now, tension simmers across the highlands — and all eyes are on Parliament.
“It’s not just a plant,” said farmer Njeru, standing in his muguka field. “It’s who we are.”
