Kenya to Resume Miraa Exports to Somalia After a Two-Year Ban

Kenya is set to resume miraa exports to Somalia this month following the lifting of a two-year ban.

Somalia’s new President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud agreed to lift the embargo after diplomatic talks with his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta in Mogadishu on Thursday.

Kenyatta was in the Somali capital to attend the inauguration of President Mohamud, who takes over from President Mohammed Farmaajo.

Addressing journalists on Friday, Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya said the export of miraa to Somalia will resume in two weeks’ time when the two countries will sign a formal trade agreement.

Direct flights between the two neighboring nations will also resume next Tuesday in a move that will facilitate the export of miraa directly to Mogadishu from Isiolo International Airport.

Kenya and Somalia are expected sto ign a bilateral air service agreement (BASA) on the sidelines of an Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) meeting in Nairobi next week.

“We want to thank President Uhuru Kenyatta for the diplomatic negotiations he has been carrying out quietly. The ban had greatly affected the economy of Mt Kenya East and the farmers’ earnings,” said Munya.

“Negotiations were completed. What’s remaining is just finalizing the paperwork so that the business resumes but we have a surety that within two weeks trading of Miraa and other products will resume in the Somali market.”

The ban on miraa announced by President Farmaajo in 2020 led to a loss of a daily market for more than 50 tons of the crop.