President William Ruto has sent a stern warning to cartels who are exploiting Miraa farmers in Meru County.
Speaking on Wednesday, April 2, in Maua town, Meru County, the President said the Meru cartels only have three options.
Ruto said he would not allow the cartels to continue harassing Miraa farmers in Meru.
"I want to tell those who have formed a miraa cartel that they have three options: either they stop their cartel activities, we send them to jail, or they go on that journey.
"We have declared from Maua that all cartel members who are ruining the miraa trade must leave Kenya because we want the miraa business to operate like any other business,” said Ruto.
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At the same time, Ruto said that Miraa would be classified as a cash crop so that farmers would get fair prices after selling Miraa.
"Recently, I told you that miraa would be classified as a cash crop, just like sugarcane, tea, coffee, and other agricultural crops. I have informed the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture that just as we support sugarcane and coffee farmers to secure fair prices, we must also support miraa farmers. That’s why we have officially gazetted new prices,” the President stated.
Further, Ruto said he had spoken to the President of Somalia, Somaliland and Jubaland on the Miraa exports and they agreed to offer new prices that are fair to the farmers.
"I have personally spoken to the presidents of Somalia, Somaliland, and Jubaland to expand our export market for miraa. They have agreed to the new prices, and those rates will now be implemented,” Ruto added.
