Miraa farmers in Kenya lost one of their biggest customers after Somalia officially canceled all purchases of the crop from Kenya, retaliatory move Miraa traders in Meru County claim followed ban on sugar and rice imports to Kenya after former Meru Governor Peter Munya’s visit to Somalia.
According to Mathew Gitonga, a Miraa trader in Meru County, the ban on Miraa was enacted as a result of Munya’s threat claims of dividing the Somalia country into two where one side would be Somali land, and the other would have its own president, who would be sponsored by him when he visited the country claiming to advocate for Miraa farmers.
The traders claim Munya is a liar and a cheat who made the government look bad after Miraa was banned in Somalia.
“Imports of sugar and rice to Kenya were halted following his visit to Somalia. Somalians responded by refusing to purchase our Miraa,” said Moses Lichoro, a Miraa trader in Meru county.
“Even if he expands the Miraa market in Nairobi and Mombasa, it won’t help because we’ve been selling there for a long time. I’m curious what else he has to offer while the ban in Somalia remains in place and he does nothing to change it,” Lichoro.
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“At the moment, the only thing he should be actively involved in is allowing Somali imports into Kenya and engaging in talks with the Somali government to lift the ban on our Miraa,” said Lichoro.
Kamakia Arunga, a Miraa trader slammed CS Peter Munya for launching Miraa sheds in Nairobi, Mombasa, and other places.
“Who told you that we want Miraa sheds in Nairobi and Mombasa? Isn’t Miraa sold there? The Miraa crop is not a problem, nor is building a place to sell it. Miraa can be hawked as long as it is not illegal,” said Kamakia Arunga.
Arunga added that Munya should stop telling people he’s looking for markets because he doesn’t follow up on anything.
“This is not the time to construct Miraa sheds because we can do with hawking Miraa at the moment. This is the time to look for a market since once we have money in our pockets from hawking, we will consider building Miraa shelters later,” said Mathew Gitonga, a Miraa trader in Meru County.
Kimathi Mwenda, a Miraa trader told Munya that Miraa isn’t sold in one place such as the sheds because he’s made a living over the years by hawking it.
