Closure of Somalia Khat market threatens economy, Meru Governor
The governor of major Khat growing county in Kenya, Meru, Peter Munya has expressed concern over the threat by the government of Somalia to ban Miraa importation to the country.
Munya said that Miraa farmers are already suffering dire economic consequences from the ban of the crop in the European market.
He appealed to Kenyan government to use all the available diplomatic measures and any other means to ensure that the Somalia Market is not closed.
The Governor also advocated for Kenyan government to apply diplomatic pressure in a bid to ensure the Miraa markets in Europe are re-opened.
Mid last month, as Somalia was celebrating Youth Day, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Somalia is losing millions of dollars to the use of the narcotic Khat leaves largely used by Somali men.
“Somalia continues to lose a huge amount of hard cash to purchase khat from Kenya, which only creates an economic source for another country. The Khatbusiness also continues to undermine our country’s post-war economic recovery” said Mohamud
Miraa traders were dealt a blow two years ago after the UK and Netherlands imposed a ban on the trade, claiming miraa, commonly known as khat, was a class C drug.
That move jolted the khat market, resulting in a miraa supply glut that not only pushed down its prices.
The cultivation of this plant is a source of income for more than six million small farmers in Kenya.
The leaves of the plant are chewed for their stimulating and euphoric effect, comparable to that of amphetamine.
Every day, 16 planes carrying bags loaded with khat travel from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi to Mogadishu.
Kenyan farmers generate over $100m per year for the export of khat to Somalia which large communities heavily depend on it.
Khat, a multi-million dollar business for countries across the Horn of Africa and in Yemen, consists of the succulent purple-stemmed leaves and shoots of a bush whose scientific name is Catha edulis.
Chewing it for hours produces a mild buzz.