The push by National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichungwah to have miraa declassified from drugs category has been rejected by medical professionals.
The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (Control) Amendment Bill 2024 seeks to make miraa legal thus ensuring its farmers are can continue with producing the stimulant.
Miraa has cathinone and cathine which are globally recognized as psychotropic substance.
Its use is associated with loss of sleep, mental health problems, and low libido among men.
Why many Kenyans depends on the drug to earn a living, Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya opposes the bill arguing that the substance found in miraa classified under psychotropic substance.
“However, we the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya are strongly opposed to the amendment and argue that it contradicts the Kenyan constitution and internasional conventions to which Kenya is party,” the pharmacy body said in a statement.
In the recent months, coastal counties have been pushing for the total ban of the drug citing effects on school going children.
Mombasa and Kwale counties had banned the drug, forcing president William Ruto to push back against the ban.
It was later agreed that the muguka be regulated to deter children and young people from using it.
This measure came as a result of push-pull between the coastal leader and Kenya Kwanza leaders who termed the ban as counterproductive owing to economic benefit the muguka to some Mt Kenya residents especially Embu county.
