Government has not banned miraa, Attorney General tells court

By Pamela Chepkemei

 Nairobi, Kenya: The Attorney General has told a court that khat (miraa) has not been classified as a narcotic in Kenya, contrary to claims by traders who sued the Government.

The AG told the High Court in Nairobi Tuesday that the National Agency for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (Nacada) had not classified the stimulant as banned substance.

“There is no evidence to support allegations that Nacada did classify miraa as a narcotic dug,” Daniel Wamotsa, a State counsel told the court.

The Nyambene Miraa Traders Association had sued Nacada and the AG challenging the classification of the plant as a narcotic drug.

The case was scheduled for hearing Tuesday, but the traders who filed the case decided not to proceed with the hearing because of the clarification.

The petitioners, through their lawyer John Khaminwa, told Justice David Majanja that they did not wish to pursue the case in view of the AG’s disclosure that the stimulant has not been classified as a narcotic.