A decade since UK ban, farmers still searching for miraa markets

Miraa farmers, mostly from Meru, call it 'green gold'. It is their main crop. Hence, the bans plunged the farmers into a socio-economic crisis.

The UK ban that declared miraa a Class C drug that should not be allowed in its markets, was a big shock to those who depend on miraa in Kenya and its value entire chain.

For ages, the UK had been miraa's biggest market, raking in billions of shillings. The then National Assembly's Ad-hoc Committee on Miraa, through its chairperson Florence Kajuju, said there were about 600,000 people who depended on the crop for their sustenance.

The committee of Ms Kajuju, currently the chairperson of the Commission on Administrative Justice, produced a report that culminated in a Bill recognizing miraa as a legal, scheduled crop.

She also led an unsuccessful petition in the UK that sought to have the ban lifted.

The hope was that once the committee discounted the perception that miraa is a drug, its recognition as any other crop in Kenya would open more avenues, including government funding and more markets.

Traders preparing miraa for sale at Kongowea Market in Mombasa County. [Kelvin Karani, Standard]

"They miraa they consume mainly come from Ethiopia. The market is substantial. The challenge is flights. Ethiopian Airways does not transport Kenyan products," Maoka said.

Ethiopia, also a major producer of miraa, and Kenya are in a cut-throat competition for the Somalia market.

During campaigns, President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua promised residents in the miraa growing regions that they would appoint an ambassador who would help them secure markets.

Noting the area is dependent on miraa farming, Gachagua said there would be an ambassador posted to Somalia, the biggest miraa market in the region.

"Ruto and I have agreed the ambassador to the miraa market will come from Nyambene. We will post someone who understands miraa so that they can get the markets for you," said Gachagua.

After winning the elections, the DP said: "Very soon we shall appoint ambassadors, we will try and look for someone from Tigania and Igembe to go to countries that trade in miraa, because they understand the crop and will look for markets".

This promise was fulfilled following the appointment of former Igembe Central MP Kubai Kiringo as Kenya's ambassador to Somalia.

"While we thank the President for appointing someone from here, we feel it is a drop in the ocean. We need much more commitment than that. We need the research institute to support miraa development. Taxes should also be reduced to ensure we compete with Ethiopia's miraa to Somalia," said Dennis Kirimi, a farmer and transporter.

About 90 per cent of Igembe farm miraa, with little diversification, and exporters of the crop have been counting losses for years.

Former assistant minister and MP for Nyambene Joseph Mutuuria said he used to make at least Sh500,000 per month from miraa before the devastating ban.