Kenya Miraa traders can now breathe a sigh of relief after Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya on Friday announced the new Somali President Hassan Mohamud has agreed to lift the ban on Miraa imports from Kenya.
Munya said negotiations have been finalized and what is remaining is the signing of a deal which is set to take place in the next two weeks, a move that will see resumption of the Miraa trade between the two countries.
Munya applauded President Uhuru Kenyatta for spearheading the talks that has seen the revival of the trade and says the remaining bit is just finalizing the paperwork so business could resume.
“We want to thank President Uhuru Kenyatta for the diplomatic negotiations he has been carrying out quietly. The ban had greatly affected the economy of Mt Kenya East and the farmers’ earnings,” he said.
President Uhuru Kenyatta was among Head of States who attended the inauguration of the new Somalia President on Thursday.
Former President Mohammed Farmaajo suspended Miraa imports from Kenya in 2020, citing COVID-19 restrictions but the suspension was never lifted as diplomatic issues kicked in.
The ban led to a loss of a daily market for more than 50 tons of Miraa valued at more than sh.20 million then.
Following the deal, Munya asked Miraa traders to now prepare their product, following the reopening of the market assuring within two weeks trading of Miraa and other products will resume in the Somali market.
According to the Ministry of Finance, in 2021, the import of Miraa contributed sh.1.3 billion in tax to the country’s revenue.