Saturday, Apr 16th 2016
Senator Kiraitu Murungi
By Phares Mutembei
MERU: Miraa will be a campaign issue in next year’s General Election, Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi and former Ntonyiri MP Maoka Maore, have said.
The two leaders admitted that it is only those who will rescue miraa farmers from a cash crunch occasioned by its ban in the lucrative European markets, would get votes from the Meru region.
Speaking during an interview on radio, Mr Maore said President Uhuru Kenyatta risks losing 200,000 votes in Nyambene, if he does not assure miraa farmers that his Government will rescue their main source of livelihood.
Miraa was a Sh14 billion a year sector before the ban.
“President Uhuru’s votes will be lost if the miraa issue is not addressed. He stands to lose out on the votes the region possesses,” said Mr Maore.
He said he was the one who lobbied for the removal of miraa from the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Bill, brought to Parliament by former Attorney General Amos Wako, in 1994.
Senator Kiraitu, who called in the show hosted by Mwenda Saba, said President Kenyatta will within a week receive the crop legislation that recognises miraa as a cash crop, for his signature.
“The bill was passed in the National Assembly and Senate but there was a slight hitch because an amendment was needed. Last week an agreement was reached and within a week it will be taken to the President for his signature,” Kiraitu said. If approved, miraa farmers will receive funds set aside by the Government to promote cash crops.