Economy

UK holds firm to miraa ban despite extension pleas

The United Kingdom remains firm on its decision to ban the importation of miraa (khat) despite pleas to extend the deadline.

Kenya’s National Assembly Majority Leader Adan Duale Thursday requested Britain to give a grace period of at least five years before effecting the ban.

“Immediate implementation of the ban will deny a lot of Kenyans a livelihood and this will reverse efforts of eradicating poverty in the country,” he said at an occasion celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s birthday at the British consulate in Nairobi on Thursday.

Mr Duale said the grace period would allow miraa farmers and traders to seek alternative sources of income.

The UK is one of the top four importers of Kenya’s khat, along with Somalia, New Zealand and Japan.

Britain however insists that the ban, which comes to effect on June 24, was not targeted at Kenya, adding that it would cushion the country from effects of the ban by providing more aid to support economic growth.

“The ban is not isolated to Kenya and has been a long standing policy of the British government. We are conscious of the economic impact that the ban will have,” said Christian Turner, the British High Commissioner.

The stand by UK comes days after President Uhuru Kenyatta and former prime minister Raila Odinga petitioned the British government to review the ban.

On May 9, the House of Lords passed a resolution to ban the herbal stimulant in the UK and have it classified in the same category as anabolic steroids and ketamine. 

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