Uhuru Kenyatta pledges to intervene over UK miraa ban

President Uhuru Kenyatta has assured miraa farmers in Meru County that the government is committed to saving their source of livelihood after they lost the battle to stop its ban in Britain.

President Kenyatta said there was need for an immediate solution to the matter saying miraa is a source of livelihood to Meru people.

“We will ensure the miraa issue is taken to the highest level possible. Our legislators had taken the matter to court and we will work together to get a solution for the farmers and residents of Meru,” he said.

He was speaking at Upendo Children’s Home in Subuiga during the wedding of Buuri MP Kinoti Gatobu and Carol Nkirote.

Meru governor Peter Munya, MPs Joseph M’Eruaki (Igembe North), Kubai Kiringo (Igembe Central), David Karithi (Tigania West) and Women Representative Florence Kajuju appealed to the government to intervene and have the ban slapped by the UK government reversed.

The ban will take effect on June 24.

Mr Munya said the decision by the UK to ban the stimulant was not based on any evidence of medical or social harm.

“We read a sinister move behind the banning of khat because even the UK committee mandated to research about miraa never cited anywhere that it is a drug,” Mr Munya said.

He urged the government to have the World Trade Organization resolve the matter as a trade dispute between Kenya and the European Union.

He said the ban would likely strain relationship between the two countries if it was implemented.

“This is somewhat of a trade dispute in total disregard of the international trade laws that allow for free trade and reciprocal treatment. Tobacco and alcohol are stellar examples of substances that have not been banned and yet they have worse effects. It is, therefore, inappropriate to ban miraa,” he said.

Mr M’Eruaki urged the President to use his position and negotiate with his European counterparts to lift the ban.

The legislator said miraa has long been an important cultural crop in Meru County, particularly for the Igembe and Tigania areas.

“Nyambene region is suffering. It is the economic backbone of our region and Meru County at large. We need to hear the government give its position on lobbying against the ban,” said Mr M’Eruaki.

Last year, lawmakers from the region travelled to the UK to lobby against the ban arguing that it was unjustified.

But the government went ahead and prohibited its use and consumption despite the UK House of Commons’ Home Affairs Select Committee pushing for the lifting of the ban on miraa.

Farmers under the umbrella group Kenya Miraa Farmers and Traders Association have indicated that they will be lodging another case at the European Court of Justice.

Traders are now being forced to look for alternative markets to keep the business afloat.

“We are optimistic that we will get a solution to this issue. We know that our able President and his government are solidly behind us as far as this issue is concerned,” said Ms Kajuju who also headed a National Assembly select committee that probed the matter.