By MARTIN MUTUA
Meru County: The High Court in Nairobi has allowed ten parliamentarians from Meru County to be enjoined in a case in which miraa traders are challenging the classification of the crop as a banned substance.
Meru Parliamentary Group chairman Mithika Linturi had expressed their desire to participate in the case “as duly elected peoples’ representatives.”
Allowing the enjoinment of the parliamentarians’, Justice David Majanja also directed the Nyambene Miraa Traders Association to amend their petition within seven days in tandem with the new development.
Politicize issue
At first, the traders had declined the request to have the leaders enjoined in the matter, saying doing so would politicise the issue.
The petitioners have accused Nacada of illegally classifying miraa as a narcotic.
According to the MPs, the crop earns the county revenue of about Sh2 billion annually. They said that if Nacada’s action is allowed to proceed residents who cultivate the crops would lose their livelihoods.
Nacada Chief Executive William Okedi has, however, maintained that miraa is a banned substance in the country.
The traders argue that the crop is their main source of income and they use proceeds from its sale to educate their children and meet other financial obligations.
