Uncertainty for Muguka farmers as new bill seeks to delist plant from scheduled crops

Muguka farmers face an uncertain future over the introduction of a new bill that seeks to remove the plant from Kenya’s scheduled crops list.

‘Scheduled crops’ are subject to regulation under the Crops Act to promote productivity, improve trade, and ensure quality. 

They include, among others, sugarcane, tea, coffee, Irish potatoes, bananas, maize, rice, sorghum, wheat, and khat, locally referred to as miraa.

Muguka, a variant of khat whose leaves are chewed for their stimulant effects, is mainly grown in the central Kenya counties of Meru, Embu, Kirinyaga, and Tharaka-Nithi.

The Crops (Amendment) Bill, 2025, by Kilifi North MP Owen Baya wants the Crops Act amended to differentiate muguka from miraa, therefore expressly excluding the variant from being a scheduled crop.

“The First Schedule to the Crops Act is amended in Part 3 by deleting the item "Miraa… catha edulis" and substituting therefor the following item—Miraa… catha edulis, but does not include the variety locally referred to as muguka,” the proposed law reads.

Muguka farming has been a hot-button topic in Kenya, mainly because of concerns that while it provides a livelihood to thousands of central Kenya farmers, it has also thrown youth into addiction for years.

Additionally, the drug has been linked to gastrointestinal problems, oral health issues such as stained teeth, gum disease, and tooth decay, as well as financial strain and neglect of family, work, and education responsibilities.

Some Coast region counties where the stimulant is widely used such as Kwale have previously imposed high levies to discourage its sale, while others like Mombasa and Kilifi banned it completely mid-last year.

They also pressured President William Ruto to declare muguka a national health security threat, citing a study that showed most of the people with mental health issues in the region abused the plant.

Three north-eastern counties of Wajir, Garissa, and Mandera at the time also hinted at imposing a ban.

But Ruto later overturned the restrictions on the grounds that miraa and Muguka are legally recognised in Kenya.

In addition to regulation, scheduled crops benefit from government-backed support such as occasional State subsidies, market structure, extension services, and research.

At present, MP Banya’s bill was received by the National Assembly on May 22.

If it sails through, the proposed law would essentially leave Muguka exposed to such county bans because it would take away the crop’s national government support.