On Friday, President Uhuru Kenyatta signed into law a bill that recognizes Miraa as a cash crop.
He also allocated Sh1 billion to Miraa farmers to protect them from EU market.
The mild stimulant has been banned in Europe with the UK putting the final nail in 2014. That took away a big market, but Somalis in other regions still enjoy it.
North Eastern leaders have come out strongly against President Uhuru’s latest move, saying Miraa does to their youth what illicit brew does to Central Kenya youths.
Miraa is the the kumikumi/illicit brew of Somalis worldwide. It's a drug in the same class with weed. Must be banned globally & regionally.
— Farah Maalim EGH (@FarahMaalimM) April 23, 2016
Miraa has destroyed hundreds of thousands of Somali/Muslim families globally. Uhuru/Raila, Somali lives& livelihoods also matter. Ban miraa.
— Farah Maalim EGH (@FarahMaalimM) April 23, 2016
The ban on miraa by the entire developed world is informed by extensive scientific research.Tanzania banned miraa way back. Learn kenyans.
— Farah Maalim EGH (@FarahMaalimM) April 23, 2016
My people are the main consumers of Miraa in Kenya; just like illicit brew, it has destroyed the lives of many young people & families
— FCPA Billow Kerrow (@BillowKerrow) April 22, 2016
By recognizing Miraa as a cash crop that needs to be protected, President Uhuru played a political card. Meru is part of the largest voting block in the country, GEMA, and luckily it belongs to him. Not to take their support for granted, Uhuru has to do everything to please them.
On the other hand, the effects of chewing Miraa are less than tobacco and alcohol, two very legal drugs.
While it has been scientifically proven that tobacco increases your chances of getting lung cancer and alcohol liver cirrhosis, khat has not been linked to any adverse medical effects.
It’s so ‘safe’ that one of the reason put forth when UK was debating its ban was that the plastic bags it is carried in were littering some streetz. It’s as if they had a litter problem not a Miraa problem.
Anyway, what do you think. How should Miraa be classified?
