Miraa traders in Kongowea market have hailed Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho's declaration to withdraw cess on all miraa transported to the county.
On Monday, while on the campaign trail with ODM leader Raila Odinga in Lari, Meru county, Joho said Mombasa will no longer impose cess charges on miraa.
Mombasa county charges Sh1,000 for a 10kg sack of miraa and Sh1,000 for a box of muguka.
A seven-tonne lorry of miraa, carrying about 600 sacks, pays Sh45, 000 at Miritini cess station to gain entry into Mombasa.
"I have listened carefully to what baba (Raila) has said about expanding our international market for miraa. I want to join him by declaring that, as from today, all miraa coming to Mombasa will not be taxed,” Joho said.
On Tuesday morning, a spot check by the Star at the Kongowea Market established that Joho’s declaration had been effected.
The Star confirmed that trucks carrying miraa and muguka were not charged a penny.
Christopher Muthomi, 45, who hails from Maua in Meru and has been selling miraa since 1995, said they were elated by the news.
He said this will go a long way in ensuring that they generate handsome profits from the commodity.
There are 300 registered miraa traders at the Kongowea market.
“We used to bring two trucks of miraa to Kongowea Market every day before the Covid-19. We now get a seven-tonne lorry and we are supposed to pay Sh45,000 before it is allowed to Mombasa,” Muthomi said.
Currently, there are three trucks of muguka coming to the market every day.
A kilogramme of miraa goes for between Sh1,500 and Sh2, 000.
But according to Muthomi, the withdrawal of cess charges will not have much effect on the selling price.
"The cost of transportation is expensive because of fuel hike prices and the little profit we are supposed to make is lost in transport," he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Henry Mutumo, 34, who has also been selling miraa for seven years now.
Mutumo confirmed that on Tuesday morning they did not pay the charges.
According to traders, muguka has affected miraa sales because muguka is cheaper and takes less time on the farm.
ODM leader Raila Odinga has promised to look for international markets for miraa in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania once elected president.
