- Photo credit. DN.se
Miraa chewing, addiction and social-economical and security issues elaborated in leading Swedish Daily Newspaper, Sunday 7thh 2010. Read the Swedish paper in Swedish here. You can make a rough translation on google language tools. According to the paper, Miraa chewers are directly supporting Al-shabab economically.
Al-shabab is a Somalian based perceived terrorist group which might be infiltrating the Kenyan porous boundaries. It has a very high interest on Miraa business currently controlling a greater percentage of production in Meru and other emerging farm areas.
Miraa is and should be regarded as a security issue in the region which is(might) simply be ignored due to the economical impact and viability in the country.In my opinion, Kenya is silently sleeping into a security dilemma that may not be possible to control in the near future. The enormous amount of dollars generated from Miraa might be empowering dangerous groups which might be find it lucrative to operate in Kenya.
It is surprising that the government of Kenya has not yet banned the Miraa farming. The Kenya government ought to face reality before it’s too late.
Apart from being a danger for the countries overall security, Miraa has an alarming negative effect on individuals social behaviour.
Many families in Kenya have been torn apart(also here in Swede-Rinkeby) as a result of one or both members being addicted to Miraa.
In Mukogodo(Laikipia North), Miraa is silently taking over the uprising townships with scaring speed. Almost 90% of school leavers fall into the khat pit. Some even use the drug while they are still in school as a stimulant during their studies.
If you study the Miraa chewers 2010 KCSE final results,, you will realize that most of them scored below their usual average marks while somber kids excelled. Very bright children who ends up being Miraa addicts while still studying, graduates with disastrous marks.They are too tired at the time they are examined after days of constant chewing and sleepless nights in preparation for exams.
After graduation, majority of the chewers continue to mesmerize themselves with the tranquility of the pacifying leaves while the non chewers trouble their minds in the conquest to free themselves from the chains of poverty.
- Miraa. Photo credit. DN.se
This is a waste of human resources not only for the individual, but also for the entire country.
On the social front, these chewers develops a careless characteristic that follows them as they degenerate away into an isolated island of drugs and supra-fantasy unimaginable to non-chewers. The drug creates severe selfishness and passiveness that becomes unbeatable throughout addiction period.
For me, I think it is wise to remember that, the more you chew the more you risk the security of your nation and your own health.
Are you recruiting chewers? You might find yourself in “anti terror” surveillance list as a potential Alshabab sympathizer and economical supporters.
On top of that, you might be slowly loosing credibility as no normal person or organization want to be associated with drug using entities.
My sincere request is that the government must take up legal arms against Miraa farming. It must orientate Miraa farmers to non drug crops and ban Miraa merchandise in the streets. Right now, Miraa has taken over the uprising Il-polei township. It came in 1990 when a shop keeper started selling in small amount.
In 1999, a group of Meru Miraa retailers moved from Dol-dol township to Il-polei. They retailers started importing MIraa directly from Meru. Today, majority of the former majestic warriors have been turned into Miraa addicts. If I had power, I would ban Miraa selling in Il-polei to begin with.
Question to you; Do you think Miraa (Khat) chewers are economically supporters of the terror listed Al-Shabab group in Somalia? If so, is the Kenyan national security jeopardized by Miraa farming and use?
Should the government of Kenya ban MIraa selling in towns?
Saidimu Ole Ngais.
(In 2004, the writer refused to rent his 6 semi-permanent business premises in Ilpolei to Miraa barons. However, his actions did not stop a Miraa tree bulging out of the grounds from which he banned the drug! Irony all over…)
A country should think of benefit its getting from this plant. What better taking illicit brews or chewing Khat?
idont suppport thisnotionthat miraa is controled by the alshabab personaly iknw pplewho own arcers of land full ov miraa n whathey do is tomarket their product n considering that miraa is the only legal drag….fill in the dots…CHEERS!!!
U definately know that this isnt true. If there is one people you cant boss around, it is the Meru people especially from MAUA, where it is grown and greatly revered as a family tradition(the growing and chewing). Heck, u are not even allowed to sell the family khat land! Plus, it could well be THE ONLY reason for peaceful co-existence with our Somali neighours? Do we really want to kill that?