Kenya exports between 13 and 17 tonnes of miraa (qat) daily to Somalia, Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Mutahi Kagwe has revealed, dismissing claims that over 40 tonnes leave the country daily.

According to official records from AFA Kenya (Agriculture and Food Authority), Kenya has exported over 17 million kilogrammes of miraa to Somalia since July 2022, following the reopening of the market after a decade-long ban in Europe.

Miraa is grown by about 110,000 farmers on 360,940 acres and supports over 1.4 million livelihoods, with annual production estimated at 32 million metric tonnes valued at Ksh13 billion.

While 80-90 per cent of miraa is consumed locally Somalia remains the dominant export destination.

In an address to Members of Parliament in Nairobi last week, the cabinet secretary explained that inconsistencies in reported export volumes arise from market-driven fluctuations in orders, cargo space availability and produce supply.

However, he assured parliament that export data from AFA, Kentrade and KRA is now fully integrated under the government single window system.

To strengthen data integrity and safeguard government revenue, Kagwe announced that his ministry has introduced new controls that include mandatory submission of airway bills and flight manifests, KEPHIS inspections for all export consignments, deployment of AFA crop inspectors at export warehouses and monthly export reporting by airlines to Kenya Airports Authority.

Additionally, he disclosed that the government is also exploring alternative export routes, including: opening additional landing ports in Somalia, road exports through northern corridors and direct miraa cargo flights from Isiolo to Manda Island.

Kagwe established that in support of the sector, the ministry has invested heavily in irrigation, market sheds, boreholes and earth dams across Meru, Embu and Tharaka Nithi counties.

“A total of Ksh220 million in seed capital has been injected in miraa cooperatives, while the Miraa Research Institute was established under KALRO in 2021,” the cabinet secretary said.

Kagwe divulged that the government has collected Ksh67.9 million in miraa levies since 2023, which is being reinvested into research, market access and infrastructure development.

“The government remains fully committed to professionalising the miraa value chain and unlocking new export markets for our farmers,” he said.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Michael Omondi