Miraa farmers in Meru turn heat on Governor Munya after Somali flights ban

Miraa farmers and traders demonstrate in Maua Town, Meru on September 7, 2016 following a ban on flights taking the commodity to Somalia. They blamed Governor Peter Munya for the "mess". PHOTO | DICKSON MWITI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By  DICKSON MWITI

What you need to know:

  • The enraged demonstrators specifically took issue with their Governor Peter Munya after Somali government blamed him for the ban.
  • Mr Munya had in July travelled to Hargeisa in Somaliland, to lobby for easier trade rules for miraa exporters from Kenya.
  • Mr Henry Kinyua, a trader, said they are hopeless since Somalia was the only market they were relying on.
  • They called on the national government, through its Foreign Affairs ministry to “clear the mess".

Miraa farmers and traders in Maua, Meru County on Wednesday demonstrated to protest the ban by the Somali government on flights ferrying the commodity to the country.

The enraged demonstrators specifically took issue with their Governor Peter Munya after Somali government blamed him for the ban.

On Tuesday evening, Somali Ambassador to Kenya Gamal Hassan said Mr Munya's visit to Hargeisa in July had caused political pressure in Somalia to have the trade stopped.

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Mr Munya had travelled to Hargeisa, the capital of Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland, to lobby for easier trade rules for miraa exporters from Kenya.

DEMANDED COMPENSATION

Led by outspoken nominated MCA Dorosen Kagwiria, the demonstrators demanded the governor compensates them for the huge losses they have incurred since the ban took effect on Tuesday.

“He went to Somalia without consulting other leaders and now he has created trouble for us. He must go back there and talk to the aggrieved (Somalia) country so that it can rescind its decision
concerning the produce,” Ms Kagwiria said.

Mr Henry Kinyua, a trader, said they are hopeless since Somalia was the only market they were relying on.

But Julius Gitonga, another trader, called on the national government, through its Foreign Affairs ministry to “clear the mess that has already been created”.

“We are the ones suffering and we call on the government to come up with a lasting solution to this issue,” he said.

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