No funds for ‘miraa’ study, Education Cabinet Secretary says Kaimenyi

By MOSES NJAGIH

Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi now says the ministry lacks sufficient funding to conduct a concrete research on the effects of miraa on education standards.

Kaimenyi told an ad hoc committee of Parliament probing the effects of consuming the stimulant that there are no budgetary provisions in his ministry to conduct an exhaustive probe on the issue. He said universities could be encouraged to conduct research on the matter to give a definite answer on the effects of miraa growing, trading and consumption on education standards.

“A conclusive finding on this issue has been greatly undermined by lack of funds in the ministry to conduct research. There is no financial allocation for such research, but maybe it’s an area universities can venture into and assist us in,” said Kaimenyi.

The cabinet secretary was responding to concerns raised by Makadara MP Benson Mutura that there is no conclusive report on the effects of miraa usage.

Kaimenyi told the committee chaired by Meru Women’s Representative Florence Kajuju that due to lack of a conclusive research report, the ministry gathered more information from Garissa and Wajir counties, which are deemed to be areas involved in consumption and trading of the stimulant.