President William Ruto has today agreed to meet with Governors from Mombasa, Kilifi, Taita Taveta and Embu Counties to discuss the recent ban on Muguka.

A statement by state house said that the Governors from the Coast region had agreed to a meeting with other stakeholders after deliberations with the president over the phone.

President @WilliamsRuto on Tuesday had a phone conversation with Governors of Mombasa, Kilifi and Taita-Taveta Counties on their concerns in the sale of muguka.

The three Governors agreed to participate in a meeting of stakeholders to be convened by the Ministry of Agriculture… pic.twitter.com/7MUFuyfZX8

— State House Kenya (@StateHouseKenya) May 28, 2024

“We agreed subsequently to convene a meeting of political leaders of the affected Counties next week,” Ruto said in a statement from State House.

This comes after Ruto met a delegation of leaders from Embu county on Monday, led by Governor Cecily Mbarire.

The three Governors agreed to participate in a meeting of stakeholders to be convened by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock this week.

In contention is the move by the coastal counties to ban Muguka which is a scheduled crop in accordance with the Crops Act 2013 and the Miraa Regulations 2023.

“With muguka having been recognised by national legislation, any other laws or orders that contradict national legislation is null and void,” Ruto said in a statement from State House.

The move by the Governors to ban the product has rendered many in the sector jobless as the legal and constitutional basis of the orders continue to attract debate and criticism.