The Kenya ambassador to Somali Kubai Kiringo has promised to help in the fight to end miraa business crisis in the country.
Speaking at the Meru county governor’s residence during the swearing in ceremony of the County Executive Committee Members, Kiringo said several factors have hindered the business for years noting stringent measures have to be taken.
“In Somali, I have done my homework and found out that the only miraa received in Mogadishu is the only produce that is consumed there with some little other supply in some other towns,” he noted.
The ambassador also noted that only those who supply miraa are the sole traders because of the little supply in that country adding that with measures more market can be opened.
“The demand there is more but there is little supply because few Kenyans can sell their miraa there. There are more Somali traders who want to venture into the business but their few counterparts in Kenya who are known have been blocking them,” said Kiringo.
He added, “These fights have made the miraa farmers poor as we sell our produce at less than Sh 1000 in the farm, but the same cost about Sh6000 in Somali”.
He promised that the government is committed to end cartels and brokers in the miraa sector.
The former Igembe Central MP called on Meru governor Mutuma M’Ethingia to join hands with the deputy president Prof.Kithure Kindiki to fight and end the cartels in the business.
“I thank God for you that you hail from the miraa growing areas. You are better placed to help me in this fight. I will give you information, support and the help you need to win this fight so that you help the Meru community” he pledged.
In a rejoinder, Governor Mutuma noted that agriculture remains a critical sector in the region that needs protection in order to benefit the farmers.
The governor expressed his governments commitment to ensure that cartels and brokers in the agriculture sector and more so in the miraa sector no longer exist.
“The frustrations that the Meru community is undergoing under business people, by the name of cartels taking advantage of crop and sweat will come to an end. We are going to protect our people through the legal structures established by our county assembly” said the governor.
On his part, Meru County Assembly Speaker Ayub Bundi said plans are underway to save the miraa sector, saying that as Meru leaders they will accord it every support.
“We will be meeting the President soon. We hear that miraa cartel is in our major airports. Probably, we would be asking the government to fast track the progress at Isiolo airport so that our crop can be transported from closer home” summed the speaker.
