Somalia Miraa traders declare to stop miraa export from Kenya

Somali Miraa traders have today officially announced to stop miraa export from Kenya.

The statement was made by the chairman of the Somali miraa traders committee Qoobe Mohamud Qayliye said that they had finally opted to stop the miraa exports from Kenya.

He said they chose to support and stand with their country and cannot trade the country’s sovereignty for miraa sales and opted their miraa market to Ethiopia from tomorrow.

“From today, we have officially stopped miraa export  from Kenya in order to stand with our government and protect our national boundaries and we have switched our miraa market to Ethiopia and starting to import from tomorrow.” said chairman Qayliye

This move comes after Kenya recalled its ambassador to Mogadishu on Saturday and ordered Somalia envoy in Nairobi to leave after an alleged auction of oil and gas blocks in maritime territorial areas claimed by both countries.

Somalia remains Kenya’s key miraa market, taking in about 50 tonnes of the commodity daily and sold value of more than Sh100 million per day.

Kenya Miraa farmers have also yesterday vowed to lose 90 per cent of the market if the diplomatic spat between Kenya and Somalia is not resolved.

The diplomatic row between the two countries is likely to affect Kenya Airway which resumed direct flights from Nairobi to Mogadishu in December. The daily nonstop flight leaves JKIA at 1 pm and arrive in Mogadishu at 2:45 pm. It is then to depart Aden Adde International Airport at 3:50 pm to arrive back in Nairobi.

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