Kenyan Miraa Growers Taken Advantage of as Cartels Rake in Millions from Unlawful Charges
Starting in July 2022, as described by farmers, a shadowy cartel emerged following a handshake agreement between Kenya's then-President Uhuru Kenyatta and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. This deal marked the end of a chilling two-year miraa export ban. Under its terms, shipments resumed, but with a devil's catch—unrecorded, ‘under-the-table’ fees said to be tacitly approved by high-ranking honchos from both nations.
Farmers are in a pickle. They’ve been thrown into a financial quagmire, already grappling with…