Miraa farmers excited as major rivals jostle for political mileage

URP chairman Meru county James Mithika on his miraa farm in Laare,Igembe North,Meru county. He says that the ameru people wont allow politicians who have their own hidden agendas to use miraa as their political merchandise in wooing voters to elect them. PHOTO: PETER MUTHOMI.

Meru leaders have welcomed the Sh1 billion injection to the struggling miraa sub-sector even as farmers await a weekend visit by Opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Political leaders and miraa stakeholders in Meru were yesterday a joyous lot after President Uhuru Kenyatta assented to the amended Crops Act to recognise the stimulant as a cash crop.

On Friday, Agriculture CS Willy Bett revoked the controversial appointments to the Taskforce on the Development of the Miraa Industry which had been steeped in litigation, reliably paving the way for appointment of a new team by the President.

County women MP Florence Kajuju said the President’s appointment will be coming out “very soon.”

But the focus now turns to how the funds will be used as the sub-sector has no organised structures and lacks systems to identify who would benefit from direct grants, subsidies or agronomy support. “Miraa is a serious income earner and although the money will not be distributed to farmers, it should be used to support its production, marketing and value addition,” said Igembe South MP Linturi.

Imenti South MP Kathuri Murungi and Leader of Majority at the County Assembly Ayub Bundi said how the funds will be used is a tricky and delicate issue that needs honest and deep consultations.

Murungi proposed that the sector be helped to first establish organised structures and a co-operative society while Ms Kajuju proposed establishment of a Miraa Marketing Board.

“The board would work to find new markets as the Government engages diplomatically to regain the European market. Countries such as Congo and Zambia and other potential markets should be engaged,” said Kajuju.

Murungi said comprehensive leaders’ consultations and adequate public participation, with the involvement of the county government, must precede the use of the funds. “Ultimately, we must insist that the kitty helps the farmer who is more affected by the collapsed markets than middlemen and traders who are still making a killing in the sector,” said Murungi.

The timing of the announcements has, however, raised eyebrows coming at a time when Raila is preparing to visit the region. Raila’s visit earlier this month had been put off.

Mike Makarena, who is involved in the preparation for the former PM’s visit, had announced that Raila will make major announcements on efforts to help the miraa farmers. The efforts are said to include engagement with British Prime Minister David Cameroon.

On the weekend of April 9 when he was to visit Meru, Raila met a delegation of the farmers’ leaders in Nairobi and later visited neighbouring Tanzania where he met President John Magafuli. Tanzania banned miraa exports over one decade ago.

It is not known whether the former PM’s visit to Tanzania had anything to do with the sub-sector, but local leaders such as Governor Peter Munya and former Ntonyiri MP Maoka Maore believe that if he announces a breakthrough, it would have devastating political ramifications especially in Meru North where Miraa is mainly grown.

“The perception on the ground is that Jubilee has not done well in addressing the Miraa crisis and Raila knows there is a vacuum to be exploited,” said Maore.

Munya said the sub-sector could do with “any help for any quarters”, a position adopted by Jubilee leaning Tigania East MP Mpuru Aburi, who was elected on ODM.