Kenya, Somalia to ink miraa trade deal in May
By Amina Wako |
The agreement aims to ensure steady economic benefits and establish a legal framework for miraa trade between the two neighbouring countries.
Kenya will sign a miraa (khat) export deal with Somalia on May 8, 2024, Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mithika Linturi has announced.
The agreement aims to ensure steady economic benefits and establish a legal framework for trade between the two neighbouring countries.
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Linturi, who addressed mourners at the funeral of Meru Deputy Speaker and Njia MCA Ali Mwenda in Igembe Central Sub-county on Monday, noted that miraa is the backbone of the economy in Meru County, significantly contributing to the livelihoods of many residents.
He assured the people that President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza government is committed to fully supporting the cash crop and safeguarding their interests.
Miraa is displayed for sale along Sabatiat Road in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on April 24, 2024. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)
Senate Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi (Meru) urged the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) to give miraa a clean bill of health as a cash crop to fully benefit residents who rely solely on it for their livelihoods.
Kenya has the largest miraa market in Somalia, generating millions of dollars from the trade.
In recent years, however, the trade has struggled due to restrictions imposed by both sides, related to regional politics.
In July 2022, Somalia granted permission for the resumption of miraa exports from Kenya and authorised the national carrier, Kenya Airways, to commence scheduled flights to Mogadishu, marking a significant step in improving trade relations.
A customer checks the freshness of miraa before purchasing it along Sabatiat Road in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on April 24, 2024. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)
This decision was reached during a second meeting between then-President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Somali counterpart, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, which took place in Nairobi.
It followed their initial encounter in May of that year, during Hassan's inauguration in Mogadishu following his victory in the presidential election.
The Nairobi visit was Hassan's first since he took office and he told a press conference that he was to "repair" relations with Kenya based on mutual respect for the sake of tackling common challenges.
The two leaders agreed to reopen their land border, which was closed more than 10 years ago but remains porous, with Al-Shabaab militants crossing over and staging attacks.
"There is a lot more to bring us together than to divide us," President Hassan told the press conference. "The common challenges we have are not limited to terrorism or droughts. We have a lot more challenges."
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