Statehouse Muguka Meeting Turned Down By Coast Region Governors
Governors from the Coast region will not attend a meeting at the Statehouse tomorrow to discuss the issues that have paralyzed the miraa and muguka industries in their respective counties.
The county bosses want President William Ruto to give them more time to consult before meeting with their counterparts from Mount Kenya’s four herb-growing counties.
A public forum has been scheduled for this coming Friday to develop resolutions that the governors hope to present to the Head of State.
Those in the miraa and muguka business along the Coast will have to wait a little longer to see if the standoff between coastal counties and the counties that supply the stimulant will be addressed.
This comes after governors from the region decided not to attend a meeting called by President William Ruto at State House Nairobi tomorrow to try to resolve the issues that have paralyzed business on the Coast.
We gathered as coastal Governors, Members of Parliament, Senators, and esteemed leaders under the Jumuiya ya County za pwani to address the pressing issue of Muguka. Today's meeting was prompted by the president's invitation to deliberate on our stand on the ban on the sale.. pic.twitter.com/r2oVw74YEp
— Gideon M. Mung'aro, OGW (@GideonMungaroM) June 16, 2024
Governor Gideon Mung’aro explained the decision, stating that they would be unable to attend the Tuesday meeting at State House.
“Rais atabidi kidogo atuwie radhi, kwamba hatutaweza kukutana naye Jumanne hii lakini tutapatana naye baada ya mkutano wetu utakaofanyika Ijumaa wiki ijayo hapa Pwani wa viongozi wote wa Pwani wa kisiasa na wengine wa ngazi tofauti. Baada ya mkutano huo tutakuwa tayari kukutana naye kujadili swala hili linaloikumba jamii yetu.”
The governors say they will be prepared to meet with the President alongside governors from the four counties of Embu, Meru, Kirinyaga, and Tharaka-Nithi following the public forum on Friday the 21st, which aims to reach a single resolution.
Mung’aro reiterated their stance, saying they would issue a way forward after meeting with regional leaders.
“Kwa sasa, msimamo wetu ni huo huo tu, hatuitaki muguka, najua unaingia kimagendo magendo lakini muguka hatutaki,” Mung’aro said
“Najua kuna tetesi nyingi sana tunaonekana kwamba sisi tumesimama tu tunakosesha biashara za watu wengine. Tunasema biashara hii inadhuru watoto wetu na ni lazima tukubaliane. Na ndio maana tumetoa udhuru kwa rais kwasababu lazima kwanza tukutane viongozi wote wa Pwani.”
The governors have also complained about the short notice period that the Head of Public Service gave them to inform them of the meeting.
The invitation is dated June 13th and invites all six coastal governors to a meeting tomorrow at 2:30 PM at State House Nairobi.
Mung’aro expressed their concerns, stating that the matter is more than just a governance issue; it is also related to health concerns.
“Tunasema atuwie radhi Sababu hata barua tuliipata Ijumaa jioni magavana wote na kwa hivo hatujaweza kufanya majadiliano ya kutosha. Tumekubaliana kwamba hili janga si la magavana peke, yake ni janga la umma na tumesema kwamba viongozi wote lazima wahusike.”
Statehouse Muguka Meeting Turned Down By Coast Region Governors
