Government increases miraa prices
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has announced new prices for khat (miraa) products
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has announced new prices for khat (miraa) products.
Through the Food Authority (AFA), the Ministry, under Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, revised the market rates after amassing views from the farmers.
The farmers submitted their views to the Miraa Pricing Formula Committee that was established to provide advice on the Miraa market forces.
“The committee reviews production data, cost, supply, and demand among other parameters to advise the sub-sector. It met on 13th February 2025,” a communique from the Ministry read.
Following the meeting, the government sanctioned that a kilogram of grade one miraa cost KSh 13, 090, up from KSh 700, grade two to cost KSh KSh 700, up from KSh 350, and Alele to be sold at KSh 100, up from KSh 500.
“The Government will continue to address the market access challenges to expand on export opportunities in our current and new markets,” the Ministry assured.
As the government seeks to pacify the Miraa farmers, the stimulant has in the recent past been decampaigned in and out of government,
In 2024, Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale stirred a frenzy around Miraa after calling for its ban.
Using the X social network, Duale recommended the ban of Miraa, which he argued posed risks to the users.
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Duale held his stance against the legalisation of Miraa, which he implied that, in the long run, it would be detrimental to the Kenyan youth folk.
“We must not jeopardize the health and future of our youth to benefit a few self-interested individuals profiting from the trade of this dangerous substance.
Miraa, like other psychotic drugs, is an addictive stimulant that poses significant risks to mental and physical health,” the CS posted.
To underscore his argument, the CS restated the national government’s commitment to combating drug and substance abuse, adding that any move to normalise Miraa usage would hamper the efforts.
“Legalizing it would only exacerbate issues of substance abuse, undermining our efforts to combat drug addiction and safeguard the productivity of our young people. The government remains committed to the fight against drugs and substance abuse nationwide,” said Duale.
The CS’s argument came in light of a heated discussion around muguka, another stimulant blamed for intoxicating and stupefying its users.
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