Miraa

In a vibrant gathering in Maua town, the heart of Igembe South, President William Ruto took to the stage on the second day of his tour around Mount Kenya. It was a clear, sunny Wednesday — the perfect backdrop for a dialogue on fostering economic growth and shielding local farmers from the menacing grip of cartels. Have you ever pondered the deep roots these challenges have in agriculture, especially for the like of miraa farmers? As the President acknowledged, the shadows of exploitation have long loomed over…

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…

NAIROBI, Kenya (AX) — A fresh initiative is underway with Kenya inaugurating a revamped pricing panel to tackle the plummeting cost of miraa, known as khat in Somalia. This vital cash crop supports thousands of farmers, with the strategy centered around boosting exports to Somalia, the predominant purchaser of Kenyan miraa. The panel's mission is clear: to stabilize miraa and muguka prices and enhance farmer revenues. The nine-strong committee, a brainchild of the Agricultural and Food Authority (AFA), boasts members from…

Miraa ban nonetheless not lifted, Somalia says after restoring diplomatic ties with Kenya MOGADISHU, Somalia - Kenyan Khat farmers may have to attend slightly longer earlier than they begin exporting their merchandise to Somalia, the Horn of Africa has clarified, simply hours after they restored diplomatic relations with the East African nation. For months, planes carrying the…