Meru Senator Kathuri Murungi has come out in defense of muguka, following a recent directive to ban its sale and consumption in Mombasa and Kilifi. Murungi expressed his support for the plant, stating that he personally consumes muguka every Saturday and has never experienced any negative effects or made irrational decisions as a result of its use.
“I chew every Saturday and the decisions I have made for the last 12 years as an MP they are always very rational,” the Senator said.
He added:
“As the deputy speaker even after chewing for whatever hours I can chew, I have never made any irrational decision. Actually, if I don’t chew I can have a problem.”
The ban on muguka in Mombasa and Kilifi counties followed concerns raised by a section of stakeholders.
Statistics show that at least 80 per cent of mental health problems found in the streets of Mombasa are due to over-consumption of muguka, Mombasa Women Empowerment Rehabilitation Center founder Amina Abdallah said.
“Use of muguka has broken so many marriages. We have received so many complaints from couples during our counselling sessions. They tell us that either the wife or husband uses muguka a lot, which affects their marriage, and they end up in depression,” Abdallah said.
A high percentage of users in the coastal region are men, but women now make 40 per cent, an increase from 10 per cent initially.
“This is like a pandemic, and we have to accept it; therefore, we are calling upon the government to join hands and help us fight the menace. There is nothing that will help Mombasa and the coastal region at large like going on the ground to talk to those users,” Abdallah said.
The effects of muguka on individuals have raised concerns, with reports of adult male patients experiencing disruptions in their bodily functions, leading to some needing to use diapers.
In response, a mental health champion has announced plans to launch a program aimed at raising awareness about the adverse effects of muguka, with the goal of reducing its consumption.
This initiative aligns with the efforts of Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, who has taken a stand against the use of muguka and miraa around educational institutions. It is emphasized that such efforts should not be abandoned.
Dr. Janbibi Yusuf, a psychiatrist at Mombasa Women’s Hospital, has supported the ban on muguka, highlighting its chemical properties as stimulants that impact not only the brain but also blood pressure.
She further elaborated that muguka’s chemical components affect the stomach and can induce psychosis and confusion, leading individuals to behave erratically.
Additionally, Dr. Yusuf warned about the potential long-term effects of muguka, including reduced sperm count, impotence, and infertility in men who use the substance regularly.
