Agriculture CS Peter Munya on Friday, September 11, asked Deputy President William Ruto to steer clear on matters relating to the miraa market.
Munya's remarks came days after the DP asked Miraa farmers to diversify their crops to cushion themselves from market shocks, before Kenya and Somalia could come to an understanding over the maritime dispute.
Speaking from Igembe South when he was launching the construction of a number of miraa markets, Munya warned leaders against politicising issues relating to the miraa trade.
“We do not want Tanga Tanga and others in miraa market issues. There were people on TV telling us to seek alternatives. As a miraa community, it is the mainstay,” Munya stated.
The CS added that President Uhuru Kenyatta was holding talks with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the issue was sorted out in no time.
"It is the government led by the president that is pursuing the issue diplomatically,” he added.
Munya announced new markets at Athiru, Kimongoro, Kiengu, Mutuate as well as other places.
In an interview on Weru TV on Sunday, September 6, the DP stated that Somalia banned miraa as a bargaining chip in the dispute with Kenya.
"They stopped the miraa business to arm-twist us. We are in talks to separate the two issues but the electioneering period is slowing the process. We hope once the elections are over, we will be able to conclude talks on resumption of trade,” Ruto stated.
In August, Somali gave five conditions for the ban on miraa trade to be lifted.
The conditions included; Kenya must treat Somalia as an equal, desist from interfering with Somalia’s internal affairs, apologise for violating Somalia airspace, allow in goods from Somalia including fish, rice, sugar, honey, meat and milk, and Kenya to stop forcing flights from Somalia to make a detour to Wajir for inspection.
