Tuesday October 19, 2021
ODM leader Raila Odinga with Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi in Maua town in Meru county, yesterday. Photo/PD/Dorcas Mbatia
Nairobi (HOL) - Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga has promised khat farmers based in Meru that he will ensure he has access to markets for their produce if he is elected Kenyan President in 2022.
Mr. Odinga, who was in a charm offensive in Meru County in a series of rallies dubbed "Azimio la Umoja," said that he would target khat markets in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Tanzania and in Somalia.
Khat is also known as miraa in the East African region.
The opposition leader, who was defeated in the 2017 General Elections by President Uhuru Kenyatta, is on a three-day tour in Meru.
"I know that miraa farmers have many problems, and the market in Somalia evaporated, but if I am elected as the Head of State, I will solve the matter for once and for all," Odinga said.
The ODM leader said that one of the easiest ways to ensure that Kenya gets back its Somalia market is solving a maritime border dispute between Kenya and Somalia.
Odinga said he had talks with DRC President Felix Tshisekedi to ensure that he allows the product in his home country.
He also said that he would be having talks with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu to allow khat to be imported to her country.
"I will also speak to the Tanzanian president so that we can get the market. There is no evidence that miraa affects one's health," he said.
In 2016, Somalia banned the importation of khat from Kenya over diplomatic issues between the two countries.
According to anti-khat campaigners, the drug trade in Kenya brings in upwards of Sh 40 million ($400,000) a day.
Somalia was one of the top export destinations for Kenya's khat before the ban. The plant is still allowed to be imported from Ethiopia.
Before the bam, fifteen cargo planes full of the plant arrived in Somalia daily, with the entire product being sold within 24 hours.
Following a thawing of diplomatic relations in May, the Somali Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) said that that khat ban was still in place.
"Transporting miraa without clearance from SCAA will be considered an unlawful act and violation of Somali Airspace," the Aviation body said.
Somalia has informed Kenya that it would consider lifting the ban if certain conditions were met.
Among those demands were that Kenya must treat Somalia as an equal, desist from interfering with Somalia's internal Affairs and apologize for violating Somalia airspace. Somalia also demanded a more equitable trade relationship that would allow food products from Somalia, including rice, sugar, fish, meat, and milk, and stop forcing flights from Somalia to make a detour to Wajir for inspection.