Wednesday August 26, 2020
Miraa farmer Andrew Ngare from Mbeere cools his cash crop to keep it fresh on August 2, 2018. FILE PHOTO | NMG
The Somali government has given Kenya five conditions ahead of lifting blockade of Miraa imports.
Nyambene Miraa Traders Association (Nyamita) reckon that talks to end the Miraa stalemate has hit a snag and Somali has issued demands that must be addressed by Kenya.
The demands include; Kenya must treat Somalia as an equal, desist from interfering with Somalia’s internal affairs, apologise for violating Somalia airspace, allow in goods from Somalia including fish, rice, sugar, honey, meat and milk and Kenya stops forcing flights from Somalia to make a detour to Wajir for inspection.
Somali had also demanded government-to-government talks after it snubbed a delegation of traders and officials from Kenya crops regulator—Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA).
“Top government officials in Somalia said Kenya has been unresponsive to the issues. We are banking on President Uhuru Kenyatta to resolve the diplomatic tiff,” Nyamita chairman Kimathi Munjuri said.
He said traders had agreed to pay increased tax of $4 (Sh432) per kilo in Somalia and adhere to new guidelines aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19.
“Kenya must take a concrete position on miraa because we are still facing basic challenges locally. This will go a long way in countering the anti-khat campaigners from Europe who have pitched tents in Somalia,” Mr Munjuri said.