Reprieve as Miraa lobby group wins UK House Committee support

“Some members of the delegation were supposed to travel back to the country yesterday (Thursday) but they have had to change this so that we can have the final meeting with the Committee on Delegated Legislation. We are upbeat that our mission is successful,” revealed Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi.

Linturi said the committee, led by Meru Women Representative Florence Kajuju, had met the UK Houses’ Foreign Relations Committee, the Committee on Home Affairs and the office of the Department of Commonwealth, under the Home Department.

“After discussing with these authorities, they were all unanimous that the decision taken by Home Secretary, Ms May, was unilateral and had no legal backing or the support of any scientific proof,” said Mithika.

He said the teams they met realized the ramifications of regulating the sale of the stimulant and the intended ban would have, especially on the economies of the miraa growing counties in Kenya.

“They also expressed fears that such actions could create tension between the two countries, given that British has very many business interests in Kenya. They also considered the move could impoverish Kenya given the loss of revenue that their Government’s decision could have,” said Linturi.

The delegation, left the country last weekend, led by Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi, who however returned to the country after the initial meetings.

Others who are in the UK are Kajuju and MPs Kanini Kega, Kubai Kiringo, Dannita Ghati, Kathuri Murungiand Zipporah Kering.

“The support we have received from the committees is overwhelming and is a major boost to stop the UK Government against taking measures on miraa that could lead to economic loss in Kenya. We feel emboldened that the UK Government will reverse its decisions, through the interventions of the House,” said Kega.

The lobbying of the UK parliamentarians to reject the proposal Ms May that the UK Government enacts a law for miraa’s ban comes even as traders and farmers of the stimulant awaits direction from the High Court in London on a suit they have filed challenging the move against the sale of khat.

In the suit filed Queens Council Paul Garlick of Dass Solicitors, the traders terms a decree by the Home Secretary to control of sale and consumption of the stimulant in UK as irrational and lacking proportionality.

The traders have told the High court in UK that the decision was taken without scientific evidence to prove that miraa was a drug.

The case seeks to reverse the decision made by May, who directed the control of miraa under the country’s Misuse of Drugs Act, on grounds that it is a class C drug.