Raila Odinga writes to PM David Cameron, seeks cancellation of ban on miraa

CORD leader Raila Odinga. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

NAIROBI, KENYA: Opposition leader Raila Odinga has launched a new plea with the British Government to review its stand on miraa, with only two weeks before the effective date of miraa ban in the United Kingdom. The ban is schedule to start being implemented on June 24, 2014.

Raila disclosed Tuesday that he dispatched a letter to British Prime Minister David Cameron last Friday asking for an extension of the effective date by at least a year.

Raila said the extension will allow further consultations and durable solutions, although he feels the best outcome would be a revocation of the ban altogether.

The one year extension would also allow communities in Meru and Nyambene to explore alternatives and markets since they have all along depended almost entirely on miraa, with the UK as the main market.

The Opposition leader expressed fears that the ban is going to hit communities in the greater Meru region particularly hard at a time of great economic uncertainty in the whole country.

He pleaded that the people of Nyambene and Meru need, at the very least, a bit more time in which to address the issues around miraa, although the ideal solution would be for a complete lifting of the ban.

He has promised the UK government that should an extension be granted, he will personally initiate discussions with the Kenya Government and elected leaders from the region including Members of Parliament, Senators, Members of County Assemblies and Governors on what can be done to ensure the miraa business does not pose a security problem to Kenya and to the UK and that Al Shabaab and other terror organizations do not benefit from it.

He also promises to use the extension to work out better regulation of the business, including registration of all involved in the hope that the changes could persuade UK’s Government to lift the ban.