Counties

Nairobi MCAs push for miraa market set up, levy removal

miraa pic

A miraa trader displays his crop. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Nairobi MCAs want the national and county government to set up trading places for miraa merchants as well as abolish cess levied on transporters of the commodity.

The ward representatives, mostly from the miraa-growing Meru region, urged the Ann Kananu-led administration to identify an area in the county to act as a permanent market for the miraa traders.

Led by nominated MCA Doris Kanario, the county legislators raised concerns over the continued operation of the miraa traders on roadsides in Eastleigh.

Eastleigh is the main business hub of the stimulant grown mainly in Nyambene region with most of the miraa chewed in Nairobi is sourced from Eastleigh.

The market covers among other places Mlolongo, Rongai, Machakos, Westlands, Parklands, South B and South C, and Nairobi West.

“The traders usually sell the miraa on roadsides especially in Pumwani and it is not good for health because of things like dust in such places. The county government should therefore set aside an area to act as a market for them,” said Ms Kanario.

Further, the MCA, who is also gunning for California Ward seat in 2022, implored the county government to follow in the footsteps of Mombasa County and remove the cess charged on miraa transporters.

On Monday, Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho ordered for the withdrawal of cess payments for miraa transporters to Mombasa County.

“I would like that (removal of the cess payments) to also be done in Nairobi County. Removing such barriers will help the miraa traders and transporters,” she said.

According to Nairobi City County Revenue Act, 2015, miraa outlets are supposed to pay Sh2,000 every month as levy for waste collection.