The abuse of Moguka has led to alarming cases of admission to mental health centres in Mombasa according to statistics.
According to data from Portreitz Mental Hospital in Changamwe sub-county, out of 90 patients admitted to the hospital on mental issues, 75 of them are affected by the cash crop, moguka.
Such data shows why Mombasa County Governor, H.E Abdulswamad Nassir moved to ban the transportation, selling, and usage of moguka in the County.
This has caused uproar from both traders and farmers alike. The uproar is mostly from Embu and Meru Counties where the crop is grown in large scale.
Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire personally stated that moguka produces a stimulant that when used can be tragic to the brain.
Some political bigwigs from central Kenya including Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua have openly come out to support the growing of moguka as they challenge the county government to put more effort into fighting the hard drugs instead of moguka.
My question is, How is it that more than 80% of those admitted to psychiatric hospitals are affected by this alleged cash crop and not the hard drugs Mombasa has been known for?
Is it true that there is a manace of hard drugs in Mombasa or is it just a story we are being told?
Anyways, when the illicit brew was affecting those in the Mount Kenya region, the deputy president traveled in every part of the country banning traditional brews like changaa and mnazi. Mark you, no one has ever been admitted to any hospital because he or she consumed mnazi.
Mnazi is a traditional brew in the coast but the deputy president didn’t hesitate to fight it, just because youths from central Kenya were addicts to traditional brews.
Another question, Should Governor Nassir have banned moguka, or should we have let the drug continue affecting the young people of our county?