PM to intervene over Dutch khat ban

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Use of miraa is banned in 17 European countries with Netherlands being the latest/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 30 – Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Monday promised to intervene to have a ban on miraa exports to Netherlands lifted.

Speaking when he received a petition from farmers and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) officials, he said he would take up the matter with the Dutch government to reverse the ban on selling khat in the European country.

The PM noted that such a ban which has already been affected by the Netherlands will greatly impoverish miraa farmers in the Meru region who depend on the crop for their livelihood.

He said: “Miraa is not a drug, and I will convey your sentiments to the governments of Netherlands and the United Kingdom to reverse the ban on the sale of the crop in their countries.”

Following the ban earlier this month Kenya was reported to be losing Sh1.6 billion per month.

Use of miraa is banned in 17 European countries with Netherlands being the latest on the list to ban its sale. (Read story on the ban)

Through Miraa lobby groups, farmers have held talks with their leaders including the government to have the ban lifted.

Miraa traders however told Capital News that they were still exporting miraa to the United Kingdom.

But they hoped Netherlands will consider lifting the ban.

Meanwhile, on the controversy surrounding the recent ODM grassroots elections where the Meru branch came up with two sets of officials, Odinga asked the warring factions to close ranks and come up with one set of officials that will be acceptable to the party.

Odinga cautioned them against conducting themselves in a manner that will bring disrepute to the party.

“Our party is as good as its officials.” “You should therefore always project a positive image of the party to be able to attract membership and support from the people,” he said.

ODM officials who spoke at the function said the political equation in Meru has changed drastically and the Meru people were no longer going to support a presidential candidate just because he is from the Mt Kenya region.

The officials who were led by the former Ntonyiri MP Maoka Maore added it was a myth that the Mt Kenya region in general and Meru in particular was anti-Odinga.

They said: “Indeed this will be demonstrated in the coming elections that will see Raila garnering a majority votes in the region.”

JUDIE KABERIA

JUDIE KABERIA

Judie is a Special Projects Reporter. She has eight years experience in Journalism in Kenya and Germany. She has scooped awards in Reproductive Health, Population and Development and Gender and Development. She has participated in international conferences in Germany. She has a soft spot for human rights and justice stories.

  • malembe

    Ati Miraa is not a drug? what is it ….! A type of grass or what?

    • Homar

      Miraa is not a drug but rather a medicine that cures depression,obesity and impotency etc. Reason that’s being Ban by Dutch is Racism at it’s best. Prostitution, Bhang is all legal and used openly in cafes. Kenya Gov’t need to protect it’s farmers and No 1 Cash crop by lobbying and reversing this Ban otherwise kenya economy would be hurt.. Kenya gov’t also need to provide new evidence to org. such W.H.O to declassify this special cash crop.

      • http://twitter.com/MwaisakaWangai Mwaisaka Wangai

        Homar correction; No.1 cash crop in Kenya is Tea, this is something even a primary school student will tell you! What the UK or Dutch govt decide to ban in their countries is up to them same way Kenya wouldn’t want to be told what or what not to import.

        In my humble opinion, the only ppl benefiting from Miraa are the Meru farmers and Somali traders. Its high time Meru farmers thought out of the box and cultivated some meaningful crop and not this harmful substance which causes hallucination amongst other side effects.   

  • W. Mutua

    Miraa is  DRUG! Period.   How politicians can say anything just for mileage.  

    • Pratt

      Wants Meru vote after sacrificing their finest son!

  • Mkenya

    He want to do it after been elected!! I think what we need is report card this year. Come with what you’ve done, then we can promote you. Politicians has taken us for granted, talking big and when elected they completely forget.

  • Mberia

    Any stuff, subtance or chemicals that alters your central nervous system – altering sleep patterns can be referred as drugs. The areas that grow khat or miraa are suitable for other crops like tea. The most annoying thing about this issue is the fact that most of these farms ar leased to Somalis who are using the same cash to engage in other illegals activities such as smuggling weapons and support banned groups such as al shababs. So its the high time Khat is banned as a dangerous drug not fit for human consumption.

  • Tekie

    ukikula meirungi hua hata husimbikwi, sasa kama sio drugs ni nini tena hio mirungi

  • Anonymous

    He (Raila) is trying to fool people that he can influence the Dutch government to overturn the ban. The truth is he can’t. What leverage does Kenya have over Holland so as to make them reverse their domestic policies in our favour simply because we have asked them? Imagine the outrage there would be if Columbia lobbied our government to unban Cocaine (TBH thats even easier to envisage because our government is so corrupt it is capable of anything, but that’s besides the point). If anything, we need them more than they need us (ei, their flower market is particularly important to us) and they are the one who are in a position to influence our decisions. This is just bloody politics by a man who will tell lies to be elected.

  • Hawa

    I think the Ban is right because every country has its own interests.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1341035298 Jim Kones

    They never banned it to punish miraa farmers but to protect the health of their people.Can RAO, stop your cunny threatrics