A delegation of the Departmental Committee on Agriculture and Livestock embarked on the third day of its Public Hearings in the Eastern Region, where the legislators also conducted inspection visits to Miraa sheds in Igembe South Constituency.
The Sub-Committee, led by Vice-chairperson Hon Catherine Waruguru, held three hearings on a Public Petition by Miraa farmers in Meru County regarding the development and marketing of miraa farming.
Among the issues raised by the petitioners were pleas for miraa to be recognized and treated as the Cash crop it is registered as, and not an illicit drug.
Also of concern, is the matter of expensive levies imposed by county governments on miraa farmers and transporters, hence a reduction in returns made from the trade.
The ban on the sale of miraa by previous importing countries like Somalia is also a major cause for concern among the farmers, who told the house sub-committee that they have been subjected to losses due to overproduction with no markets.
The Sub-committee, also heard that the security of Miraa Transporters to the Northern regions of Kenya has been compromised, with reported cases of fatal attacks, hence the need to beef up security. The traders and farmers are now seeking the establishment of a Miraa Board of Kenya, to specifically handle their issues.
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From the inspection visits by the sub-committee to the Miraa shades, the Miraa traders told the committee that the structures, which they allege were built at exorbitant prices, are mostly dysfunctional as they cannot accommodate most of the traders as intended.
The committee sought clarification from the present representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, who said each of the sheds cost over Kshs. 7 Million, a figure that the committee noted was too much to have been used to construct the kinds of structures seen today.
“The Miraa farmers have heard that the Ministry of Agriculture is unconcerned about them because the representatives are unaware of the cost used in drilling boreholes. A vehicle transporting Miraa is taxed at Ksh 1000 in Meru County, but between Ksh 40,000 and Ksh 50,000 in the other counties,” said Hon. John Paul Mwirigi- MP, Igembe South.
When Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi took office, he issued a statement with former Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri in which he stated that instead of looking for ways to expand miraa production in Buuri-Nchoroiboro, Central Imenti, and South Imenti Sub-Counties, he wanted Miraa farmers to replace crop with avocado and macadamia.
“In the fiscal years 2017/2018 and 2018/2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta gave Miraa farmers Ksh 1 billion. However, someone else suggested that the funds be diverted to other projects. Investigations must be carried out to determine why the funds were diverted,” Hon. John Paul Mwirigi- MP, Igembe South.
Kirairu Murungi held a meeting with Mwangi Kiunjuri and agreed that they should divert the Ksh 1 billion meant for Miraa farmers to purchase and plant macadamia, avocados and grapes seedlings for the Miraa farmers.
Part of the money was used but the plants were neither brought nor planted.
The MPs, before conducting the Public hearings, paid a courtesy call to the Meru County Commissioner Kariuki Ngumo. The Members of the Sub-Committee present included:
- Hon Catherine Waruguru- Vice Chair, MP, Laikipia County
- Hon Majimbo Kalasinga- MP, Kabuchai
- Hon Joyce Kameme- Woman Representative, Machakos County
- Hon Geoffery Odanga- MP, Matayos
- Hon John Paul Mwirigi- MP, Igembe South
The Sub-Committee is scheduled to hold its final Public Petition hearings from Miraa farmers on Thursday, July 29 in Igembe North and Igembe Central Constituencies.
