‘Those saying Miraa is a drug are enemies of the Meru community’ – Gachagua
By Mary Ouko, October 1, 2023
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua now claims that Miraa should not be listed as a drug.
Speaking at the Methodist Church in Kaleo, Igembe North, Meru county on Sunday, October 1, 2023, the DP insisted that Miraa was a cash crop and not a drug.
He went on to state that several families have benefitted from the proceeds of Miraa farming and that anyone who claimed that the crop was a drug was an enemy of the Meru community.
“We want to tell hawa watu wa Nacada, Miraa is not a cash crop its a drug, hao watu wengi wote wamesoma na miraa, hii kanisa mmejenga na miraa. Miraa is a cash crop na anybody ambaye anasema miraa is a drug is an enemy of the Meru community,” the DP stated.
At the same time, the DP assured the residents that the government was up in arms to ensure that the Miraa sector undergoes similar reforms to those formulated for the coffee sector.
He also promised that the government would convene a Miraa conference that’s similar to the tea and coffee conferences to have a discussion on the issues affecting Miraa farmers.
The country’s second-in-command also noted that the conference will provide solutions to the grievances aired by the aforementioned farmers.
“The same reforms being made in the coffee sector will also be prioritised for Miraa,” the DP stated.
Gachagua’s remarks were echoed by Igembe Central Member of Parliament (MP) Dan Kiili who insisted that Miraa should not be recognised as a drug.
The lawmaker affirmed that he was formulating a bill to protect the crop from ‘unnecessary’ attacks.
“Why are they not saying coffee and tea is a drug yet they keep mentioning miraa?” he said.