A section of Nairobi MCAs from Meru have asked for the establishment of miraa trading places.
The ward reps also want both the national and county governments to remove the cess levied on the commodity’s transporters.
Early this month, through a notice of motion, nominated MCA Doris Kanario raised concerns over the continued operation of the miraa traders on roadsides in Eastleigh which is not healthy.
Eastleigh is the main business hub of the stimulant grown mainly in Nyambene. Most of the miraa chewed in Nairobi is sourced from Eastleigh.
The market covers Mlolongo, Rongai, Machakos, Westlands, Parklands, South B and South C and Nairobi West.
“The traders usually sell the miraa on roadsides which is not healthy. The county government should therefore set aside an area to act as a market for them,” Kanario added.
Miraa (kKhat) is considered a mild stimulant but also categorised by the National Authority for Campaign Against Drug Abuse as a drug.
Although the World Health Organization classified miraa as a drug of abuse in 1980, it indicated that khat has less effect than tobacco or alcohol.
Its trade is valued at about Sh40 billion a year. It is however prone to local and regional political manipulation. The crop also lacks proper marketing.
According to Nairobi City County Revenue Act, 2015, miraa outlets are supposed to pay Sh2,000 every month as levy for waste collection.
Further, every probox is supposed to pay Sh500 while pick-ups pay Sh1,000 as offloading fee. However, if it is transported in bags, then a small bag will attract a levy of Sh50 while Sh100 will be for a medium bag.
In October, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho ordered the withdrawal of cess payments for miraa transporters to Mombasa county.
Kanario said the removal of cess payment will help the miraa traders thrive in business.
“The county government of Nairobi should emulate what Mombasa county has done for the miraa transporters,” she said.
Utawala Ward MCA Patrick Karani echoed Kanario’s sentiments saying that the time was ripe for City hall to allocate trading spaces for miraa sellers.
“The traders have lacked a market for a long time and I urge the county government to establish a market for them. The government should look after them,” he added.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)