by GERALD MUTETHIA
Tuesday November 3, 2020
Agriculture CS Peter Munya and EALA MP Mpuru Aburi in a past event in Igembe South, Meru (Photo by: GERALD MUTETHIA)
Troubles facing the miraa sector in Meru have presented a battle ground between Governor Kiraitu Murungi and his rival, Agriculture CS Peter Munya.
On Monday, politicians led by Governor Murungi and Igembe North MP Maoka Maore claimed to have reached President Uhuru Kenyatta over the matter after a meeting with Interior CS Fred Matiangi’.
Other leaders in the meeting included Igembe North politician James Mithika, his Igembe South counterpart Mithika Mzalendo, Mt Kenya Foundation chairman Titus Ibui, county secretary Rufus Miriti and a host of MCAs from Nyambene and Miraa Traders Association.
Matiang'i said the meeting sought to address challenges facing exportation of miraa to Somalia.
"We will work with authorities from ministries of @ForeignOfficeKE @kilimoKE & other stakeholders to prevent further losses," Matiang'i tweeted on Monday.
Among the conditions Somalia has set for the ban to be lifted include that Kenya must desist from interfering with Somalia’s internal affairs, apologise for violating its airspace, allow in goods from Somalia including fish, rice, sugar, honey, meat and milk and Kenya stops forcing flights from Somalia to make a detour to Wajir for inspection.
Nyambene Miraa traders Association Kimathi Munjuri said they had unsuccessfully pleaded with Munya to end the miraa export standoff between Kenya and Somalia.
As a result, he noted, they sought the intervention of Governor Murungi, who organised a delegation to meet President Kenyatta.
“We deliberated on matters concerning the opening of miraa export market to Somalia. I am glad that President Uhuru Kenyatta directed that CS Matiang'i and his counterparts from Defence and Foreign Affairs ministries to work together to ensure we reach a consensus. They will hold a diplomatic meeting with the Somalia Ambassador to Kenya to further the deliberations,” Kiraitu said.
But in a rejoinder Munya's allies among them EALA legislator Mpuru Aburi, Cooperatives adviser James Mutia, former MCA Jackson Muriki and PA Kofia Kaulani held a press conference, where they released videos claiming Kiraitu is hoodwinking Nyambene people for political gains not on market search.