SENATE HOLDS PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ON MIRAA IN EMBU

The Senate Standing Committee on Security, Defense and Foreign Relations on Monday held a public Participation forum with muguka farmers and traders from Embu County over the proposed bill that seeks to declassify miraa/muguka as drugs. The forum held in Kiritiri Market in Mbeere South Constituency was meant to gather views on the Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Bill 2024 sponsored by Meru Senator and Senate Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi. The Bill seeks to remove Cathinone and Cathine found in miraa/muguka from the category of drugs as scheduled by NACADA, essentially removing it from the category of narcotics. The team was hosted by Embu Senator Alexander Mundigi, who has been vocal in the fight againsta ban on muguka that was threatening the livelihoods of thousands of farmers who depend on it for upkeep.