Miraa farmers are poised to lose more than 90 per cent of the Somalian market if the country does not resolve its diplomatic woes with Somalia.
According to information released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Somalia has remained Kenya’s major miraa destination, consuming over 50 tonnes of the commodity on a daily basis.
This means that farmers are expected to lose Kshs 100 million every day.
In fact, tensions were at an all-time high after Kenya recalled its ambassador to Mogadishu.
It further directed the Somali envoy to leave Nairobi after there was an alleged auction of gas and oil blocks in maritime territorial areas that are claimed by both countries.
Additionally, Foreign Affairs PS Macharia Kamau has stated that the allege auction was conducted in London on the 7th of February.
Nonetheless, the dispute is yet to be resolved at the International Court of Justice based in the Netherlands.
That being said, miraa traders have shown solidarity with the government, stating that they are not ready to trade the sovereignty of the government just to maintain their current miraa sales.
In a statement to the press, a spokesman for the Nyambene Miraa Traders Association stated that Somalia traders were blackmailing the Kenyan government and holding the welfare of Miraa traders as bait.
Interestingly, it appears that the trade balance between the two countries benefits Somalia, as KNBS data shows that Kenya imported goods such as machinery, pharmaceutical products and tobacco totalling 152.7 billion in 2017
On the other hand, the exports from its neighbour only totalled a mere 52.8 billion in 2017.
The diplomatic row is poised to affect many diplomatic ties between the two countries, including the resuming of direct flights between Nairobi to Mogadishu.