Kenya: Engage with Somalia president to end the cartel in Khat industry: Miraa traders’ urges Ruto

NAIROBI, (GO)- The miraa traders from Meru county in the Mount Kenya region have pleaded with the president-elect Dr. William Ruto to engage in a dialogue with Somalia President Sheikh Hassan Mohamud to bring to an end the cartels controlling and harassing them.

Under the umbrella body of Nyambene Miraa Traders Association, they claim that top government officials from Somalia have been demanding a commission of 4 USD for every kilogram of khat before they can be exported to Somalia.

“We are paying this commission for some faceless people here in Nairobi said to be operatives of the Somalia Government. It has made our Miraa very expensive, out of the reach of many in Somalia. In Somalia, we still pay the import duty. It must be stopped, and what could be a better time for this matter to be addressed than during tomorrow’s President-Elect Ruto's inauguration, where Somalia Sheikh Hassan Mohamud is among the chief guest.” Says the association's chair, Kimathi Munjuri.

Speaking to Garwoe Online-Nairobi Correspondent last Sunday, Kimathi revealed that while Ruto was on a tour of the region, their political leaders presented a petition calling for dialogue to end the harassment.

Igembe South Member of Parliament John Paul Mwirigi had appealed to Ruto to crack the whip on cartels that had taken root in the miraa sector after the opening of the Somalia export market.

The MP further said despite the lifting of the two-year ban, farmers were suffering at the hands of cartels that were demanding vast sums of money at the airport.

In his response, Dr. Ruto said that once he has been sworn in on Tuesday, he would give directives to streamline not only the miraa but other agricultural sub-sectors to empower farmers who would assist in reducing the cost of living.

“Once I am sworn in, if you are a cartel, start finding another country where you can hide, but in Kenya, I will deal with you as per the law, and all our farmers, not just the miraa sector but the entire agricultural sector will be rid off of any cartel. So if anyone here knows them, please go and tell them to start packing because it would not be business as usual.”Dr. Ruto, while addressing the public in Maua stadium-Meru County.

The cartels are accused of charging a commission of  USD 4.50 per Kg on Miraa exported to Somalia, and if any trader refuses, their stock is left behind to rot at the airport.

Mr. Kimathi “This commission on every Kg of Miraa we export to Somalia that is being collected without option by airline operators exporting Miraa to Somalia uplift service on behalf of some faceless characters in Somalia and Kenya has bankrupted most exporters in the two months since the market re-opened. The retail price our Miraa is fetching in Somalia has proven unable to absorb. So we either speak out, and those taking it unmasked so that they can explain what it is about or watch in silence for the exports to grind to a halt coz unless it is removed, this is the sure end.”
He added that since the re-opening of the Somalia miraa market that saw over 16 exporters embarking on the trade, only seven are still up and operating. The rest have been forced to find an alternative market locally because they cannot keep up with the demands of these cartels.

The association is now hoping that once Somalia's head of state arrives in Nairobi, he will have time with miraa farmers and traders under the leadership of  Dr. Ruto.

President Sheikh Hassan Mohamud is expected to arrive in Kenya later today to attend the swearing-in of Dr. William Ruto as the 5th president of Kenya.

GAROWE ONLINE