The government has announced plans to streamline the miraa trade by bringing farmers and traders under cooperative societies. According to Cooperatives Principal Secretary Patrick Kilemi, the initiative is aimed at curbing theft, improving accountability, and enhancing the tracking of vehicles transporting the crop across the country.

Speaking during a forum in Mombasa on Monday, September 1, 2025, Kilemi said the ministry has already engaged stakeholders within the miraa sector to ensure the new framework is implemented effectively. He stressed that the use of cooperative structures would not only improve organisation within the industry but also help farmers benefit from collective bargaining power.

“We want to work with these groups so that we can control the supply side of miraa through cooperatives. If production is high, we can manage it. While we have no control over demand, we can regulate supply,” Kilemi said.

He explained that a coordinated system would make it easier for the government to monitor the flow of miraa, reduce cases of diversion during transport, and help establish reliable records of production and sales. This, he added, would also pave the way for more structured marketing strategies and potential expansion into export markets.

Meru leaders seek safeguards

Leaders from Meru County, the largest producer of miraa in Kenya, welcomed the move but called for the government to go a step further by extending financial and technical support to farmers across the country. Tigania East MP M’puru Aburi urged the ministry to ensure that cooperatives in the miraa sector are managed efficiently and transparently.

“We have seen problems with cooperatives in tea farming, where produce sometimes goes missing during transit. As leaders, we are asking that such mistakes are not repeated in the miraa sector,” Aburi noted, emphasising the need to protect farmers’ earnings.

Miraa remains a key cash crop for many households in Meru and neighbouring counties, providing income and employment for thousands of farmers, transporters, and traders. However, the industry has often faced challenges, including price fluctuations, market instability, and restrictions in some export destinations.

The ministry hopes that regulating the trade through cooperatives will not only minimise losses for farmers but also create a more transparent and sustainable system.