A chilling warning has been issued to young Kenyans who chew muguka and miraa, with agricultural influencer Fred Munene, popularly known as Farm With Fred, claiming the popular stimulants could be silently destroying their health.
In a hard-hitting social media post, Munene urged youth to “stop chewing muguka or miraa… kidogo tu,” warning that their bodies are being loaded with dangerous chemicals in the name of fast money and high demand.
According to the farmer and influencer, the rush for profit has pushed some growers in Embu and Meru to abandon safety standards.
“You trust the farmer. You trust the chain. That trust is a betrayal,” Munene wrote, claiming some producers now prioritise speed over consumer health.
He named several chemicals he says are being misused in muguka and miraa farms. One of them is Triatix, an acaricide meant for killing ticks on cattle, which contains amitraz.
Munene warned that residues of the chemical can affect the nervous system and are linked to breathing problems, hormonal disruption, and reproductive harm.
Another product he mentioned is Sevin dust (carbaryl), an insecticide he claimed interferes with nerve signalling and may affect sperm quality, hormones, and increase long-term disease risk with repeated exposure.
Munene also alleged that smuggled products containing abamectin are being used, sometimes harvested the morning after spraying.
He described these chemicals as highly toxic, targeting nerve transmission and affecting the brain, gut, and reproductive organs.
In his most alarming claim, Munene said banned herbicides such as glyphosate, allegedly found in products like Tornado and Ranger, are still appearing in muguka and miraa fields despite restrictions in Kenya.
“Spraying happens during the day. Harvest follows before sunrise. No waiting period. No residue breakdown,” he wrote. “A motorcycle speeds the leaves to town within hours. You chew fresh poison.”
He framed his message as a personal appeal rather than an attack on farmers.
“I gain nothing from telling you this, brothers,” Munene said. “I spoke because I care. I love you, brother.”