Duale’s proposition came days after another stimulant, muguka, was banned in some counties.
Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale could stir another frenzy around stimulant usage after calling for the ban in Miraa.
Using the X social network, Duale recommended the ban of Miraa, which he argued posed risks to the users.
Duale held his stance against the legalisation of Miraa, which he implied that, in the long run, it would be detrimental to the Kenyan youth folk.
“We must not jeopardize the health and future of our youth to benefit a few self-interested individuals profiting from the trade of this dangerous substance.
Miraa, like other psychotic drugs, is an addictive stimulant that poses significant risks to mental and physical health,” the CS posted.
To underscore his argument, the CS restated the national government’s commitment to combating drug and substance abuse, adding that any move to normalise Miraa usage would hamper the efforts.
“Legalizing it would only exacerbate issues of substance abuse, undermining our efforts to combat drug addiction and safeguard the productivity of our young people. The government remains committed to the fight against drugs and substance abuse nationwide,” said Duale.
The CS’s argument came in light of a heated discussion around muguka, another stimulant blamed for intoxicating and stupefying its users.
Three counties in the Kenyan cost banned the sale and distribution of muguka.
The move by governors Abdulswamad Nassir (Mombasa), Andrew Mwadime (Taita Taveta) and Gideon Mung’aro (Kilifi) did not sit well with the leaders from Embu where the stimulant is grown.
They argued that stimulant was not harmful as portrayed by the governors, adding that their move would hurt farmers who capitalise on the crop.
It took the intervention of President William Ruto to engage all the parties for a common ground.
He met the leadership of Embu County, led by Governor Cecily Mbarire.
The president later engaged the coastal governors whom he invited to a stakeholders’ meeting for the way forward.
Meanwhile, the High Court in Embu suspended the ban until July 8 when the matter before it will be fully heard and determined.
This was after some parties filed an application challenging the ban of muguka in the three counties.
