BY Mohammed Hersi
Matters Miraa , I am torn between the user and the farmer. The users are mainly folks from my community while the farmers are people I share a lot with since I did most of my high school years in their backyard. Hardworking honest people. You rarely get a Meru conman .
Let me also state that it is NOT the entire Meru that is dependant on Miraa They are big in dairy and general farming . Meru is big with cooperatives . Meru were already packaging their own milk & by products as early as the 70's. Meru is big in wheat farming etc
If I was to borrow from the game of chase I would call the new ban by Somalia a checkmate while the UK & Holland ban was a simple check . In chess if you suffer a checkmate it means the game is over you start again or you simply take a walk.
For my Meru folks please understand that Khat that is revered in your community has been a curse to mine. We have guys who have become zombies because they have over indulged. I know many would argue that you don't ban something because some users have abused it but trust me Somalis have gone overboard with it. They virtually don't work in the afternoon , chewing the stimulant late into the night. The same applies to many parts of Mombasa my adopted home.
Northern Kenya has the highest numbers of broken marriages due to men who are married to Miraa.
Way forward, every Meru farmer and politician ought to be taken through the teachings of #cheesehasmoved . It is all about change management . Industries have had to close due to new products, go ask Kodak , go ask Nokia or even Blackberry they are still trying to understand what hit them.
God has been very kind to Meru esp the Nyambene hills the heartbeat of Miraa .The weather is great for many other crops esp organic vegetables that can be expected to Europe. Miraa was organic for those of you who did not know about it. It was considered a taboo to spray Miraa with pesticide. Isiolo International Airport is soon opening , it is very very close to Nyambene. We also know that it was also meant to serve the Miraa export then, please replace the same with French beans, snow peas etc that are in huge demand in Europe.
Take it from me blaming Goverment will not help. GOK cannot force any country to take something they consider harmful to their people. Please do not fall into that trap of victimhood. It's time to move on look for fresh cheese .
Put the Ksh1B from GOK to better use by exploring the route to fresh cheese. Please don't waste your money on litigation in UK etc. Anyone taking you that route is lying to you.
Anyone telling you that they they will seek alternative market for you is also lying to you. How do you introduce Miraa to say Russians or Chinese . Somalis and Yemenis are the ones who chew the stuff and NOT even all Arabs .
Murume when life hands you a lemon.....you know the drill....
Good luck Mbro
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