CORPORATE INTELLIGENCE AFRICA ISSUE 0024 | Page 21

However, in the past few decades, the crop has become a commercial commodity, thanks to the industry and distribution networks of the Somali community. Business analysts intimate that prohibition of exports to the Netherlands is expected to deny Kenya between Ksh1 billion and Sh2 billion in annual incomes. The UK’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs had concluded in a report that miraa should not be controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Farmers of miraa now appealed to the government to intervene, and salvage the industry from collapsing, after it became imminent that the ban will deprive farmers of their only source of livelihood. The decision has seen Miraa traders move to court to stop the National Agency for the campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA) from declaring miraa a

narcotic drug. Through their association, the farmers want the court to stop NACADA from classifying miraa as a narcotic drug, pending hearing and determination of their case. The petitioner argued that they depend on miraa farming and trade for their livelihood and after further bans could adversely affect their lives. “Miraa has a unique cultural value as it forms integral part during dowry payment, passage of rites and used for dispute resolution among council of elders of Ameru,” said John Kivindo a mirra trader from Tigania East. They further asserted that miraa is medicinal arguing that NACADA’s decision could offend Article 46 of the Constitution.

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