by EMMANUEL WANJALA
Sunday June 19, 2022
Kenya is close to unlocking the Somalia miraa market with an
agreement expected to be signed early July.
Agriculture CS Peter Munya revealed on Saturday that
discussions between the two countries have entered the home stretch with a deal
expected in two weeks’ time.
“On the 5th of July, the agreement will be signed here in
Nairobi,” Munya said.
He spoke on Saturday during Azimio campaigns at Kinoru
stadium in Meru county.
The Azimio campaign caravan pitched camp at the stadium the
whole day with a backet list of promises to the region’s electorate should they
clinch the presidency.
The vote-hunting mission was led by presidential candidate
Raila Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua.
Somalia suspended miraa imports from Kenya two years ago on
March 19, 2020, citing Covid-19 restrictions.
The suspension was, however, never lifted after a diplomatic
row erupted between the two countries.
The ban led to a loss of a daily market for more than 50
tons of khat valued at more than Sh20 million then.
Munya however assured miraa farmers in the country that the
suffering is inching closer to an end.
“Just irrigate your miraa, prepare your farms, a market has
been found,” he said to resounding jubilartion from the crowd.
The CS said reforms in the other agricultue sector
inlclunding tea are also ongoing.
He said as a demonstration of this, tea farmers will on July
8, 2022 receive heavy bonuses.
“It will be heavy, the kind they have never received
before,” Munya said.
The CS added that coffee farmers have also not been left
behind.
“And you know Baba (Raila) said after I finsh this term I
was given by President Uhuru (Kenyatta), he will retain me in government to
continue with the reforms,” Munya said.