Mombasa county has joined the 10-day campaign against Muguka.

The campaign running from June 10 to June 20, seeks to highlight the negative impacts of the stimulant especially on the youth.

On Monday, Kilifi North MP Owen Baya launched the campaign at the Kibaoni Social Hall in Kilifi town.

Speaking to the Press at the Governor's office on Tuesday, Mombasa Deputy Governor Francis Thoya said Coast leaders have been forced to come up with the campaign after the government 'ignored' them.

"We have realised that the national government has decided to ignore us on this. The president has been meeting leaders from areas where Muguka comes from, just yesterday he had a meeting with leaders from Meru but has ignored to meet the six governors from the Coastal counties" said Thoya.

Adding " For us we have now resolved that the issue of Muguka is no longer about the leaders but our people and that is why we are starting this campaign , it will be a nationwide campaign starting with our Coast counties. We have now decided to get out of the boardrooms and go to our people and educate them on the effects of Muguka and why we should not allow it in our region."

The campaign which will involve political and religious leaders, stakeholders will include radio and Tv talk shows, street protests, community and school engagements. visiting rehabilitation centres, offering counseling services among other activities.

"If the government does not want to listen to the leaders, then it will now be forced to listen to the people. We know it is not going to be an easy fight but we are ready for it. Prepare for a major announcement after this campaign" said Thoya.

The campaign will also include advocating for support  for the draft Crops (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which proposes removing miraa from the list of scheduled/ cash crops.

Thoya accused the government of being insensitive to the concerns of leaders from the Coast region.

"The reason why the president is engaging leaders from Meru and Embu is because he got majority of his votes from those areas, if at all he could have got majority votes from the Coast then he could be here speaking to us" argued Thoya.