In the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Bill, 2024 Meru Senator explained that Miraa was on the National Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) list of drugs because of two substances.
During his state of the county address at the Meru County Assembly, Senator Kathuri Murungi did not stop at anything in disputing the reports from NACADA in the fight to ensure that Miraa is not classified as a drug.
Kathuri said he has sponsored the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substance (Amendment) Bill, 2023, whose intent is to remove cathine and cathinone as naturally found in miraa, from the ambits of the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1994.
“The classification of Miraa as a harmful drug continues to hurt its sales in the domestic and international markets.” Said Kathuri
Most Miraa product manufacturers have continued to express their frustration as their value-added products continue to fall within the prohibited phototropic substances and as such the products can not reach the intended market.
Senator Kathuri has- through the Sessional Committee on Delegated Legislation approved Miraa’s Regulation) Legal Notice No.41 of 2023) seeks to grow the Miraa sector and ensure farmers have greater access to the export market.
This follows the International Miraa Conference that the second Meru County Government conducted led by Hon. Kiraitu Murungi, in collaboration with Kenya Research Institute (KEMRI), both the National Campaign Against Drug and the Kenya Bureau of Standards, where they all expressed their support for the development of Miraa products.
The Senator, through a Senate Committee for Trade, Industrialization, and Tourism has raised germane and material issues of concern to miraa farmers and is working to resolve issues such as the drastic reduction of prices, alleged illegal fees charges at the airport, and the current quotes of 19 tons on the Somalia market.
Senator Kathuri lauded the Kenya Airport Authorities (KAA) team and the County Government of Mombasa for their good faith and commitment to facilitating a seamless operation for Miraa.
Additionally, the Senator said he has raised concerns through the Committee for Roads, Transport, and Housing over the harassment of the passengers carrying miraa in the SGR, which he believes will be addressed.
