Kenyan miraa (khat) has been officially cleared for export to the Djibouti market, the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) has announced.
This follows successful trade engagements between the two countries, marking a significant breakthrough for miraa exporters.
“Djibouti has opened its market for Kenyan miraa, subject to regulatory compliance,” AFA said in a statement.
The clearance comes after a Trade Mission to Djibouti in October 2024 and a reciprocal visit by a Djibouti delegation to Kenya in November 2024.
According to AFA, the move is a key step in diversifying Kenya’s miraa export markets.
It urged traders to seize the opportunity and connect with buyers in Djibouti.
“This new development marks a major milestone in diversifying Kenya’s miraa export markets,” the statement said.
The authority stated that exporters seeking to enter the Djibouti market must comply with specific import regulations.
These include securing the necessary permits and adhering to product standards.
“Additionally, the traders must comply with requirements by relevant regulatory and government institutions in Kenya, to ensure smooth trade operations.”
This comes a few months after the Agriculture ministry announced new miraa prices in a move that doubled the cost of Grade 1, Grade 2 and Alele varieties.
In the prices that were effective February 2025, a kilogramme of Grade 1 miraa now costs Sh1,300 from Sh700, while the price for the same quantity of Grade 2 went up to Sh700 from Sh350. The price of a kilogramme of Alale increased from Sh500 to Sh1,000.
Kagwe noted that the Miraa Pricing Formula Committee was established pursuant to provisions of regulation 29 of the Crops (Miraa) Regulations, 2023, with an objective of providing advice to the industry regarding the pricing of Kenyan miraa.
“In executing its duties, the committee reviews production data, cost, supply and demand among other parameters to advise the sub-sector,” he stated.
He stated that the committee met on February 13, 2025, and, after considering the submissions from farmers and traders, advised the ministry on the new prices.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, through the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), is mandated to regulate, develop, and promote the Scheduled Crops.
Miraa, botanically known as Catha edulis, which includes the local variety known as Muguka, is a flowering evergreen tree globally recognised as khat.
Miraa grows naturally in Meru along the Nyambene Hills, Tharaka Nithi and Embu counties.
The crop has also spread to several other counties as a means of income diversification, including Marsabit, Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Murang’a, Machakos, Makueni, Laikipia, and West Pokot.
The majority of households living in miraa-growing regions directly depend on it for their livelihood.
It is estimated that over four million people depend on the sub-sector indirectly, and about 10 million people use miraa globally daily.
