The legislators assured farmers that they would safeguard the Sh9 billion sector using all available avenues. The leaders said they had already initiated dialogue with the Netherlands Embassy in Nairobi over the matter.
Kiraitu said once the county government was in place, such negotiations would be hastened sincethe county administration would deal with the matter directly.
“The county government will be able to handle the matter faster than it is at the moment, as there will be no bureaucracy,” they said.
They urged European markets where the ban of the crop had been imposed to rescind the decision, saying it had considerably affected farmers.
Kiraitu, who is aspiring for the senatorial seat in Meru County, wondered why the Netherlands had taken such drastic measures to ban the crop that is the main cash earner for the county.
“Miraa has been listed as a drug by the Holland Government but I’m taking up the matter with Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Ongeri and his Trade counterpart Moses Wetangula with a view to seeking audience with the European Union to lift the ban on the crop,” Kiraitu said.
International Market
Tigania East MP Peter Munya wondered why khat, which has been used by Merus since time immemorial, was banned in the international market.And Imenti North MP Ntoithia M’Mithiaru urged Kiraitu to hasten the appointment with the Netherlands Ambassador, pointing out that it was affecting farmers negatively.
Meanwhile, Konoin MP Julius Kones said tea auctions should be established in tea growing zones like Bomet and Kericho once county governments kick off
He said the tea auction in Mombasa only favoured middlemen and transporters instead of farmers.
Dr Kones said through such establishments, tea-producing counties could have direct linkages with both local and international markets. - The Standard
