Kenyan khat traders and growers are seeking to secure a market in Djibouti, which will is largest khat market in East Africa after Somalia.
The traders exported about eight tonnes to the tiny Horn of Africa nation in two weeks.
Nyambene Miraa Traders Association chairperson Kimathi Munjuri has called on Kenyan government to negotiate with Djibouti over possible expansion of the trade.
According to the chairman, in the last two weeks, Kenyan khat traders sent two planes carrying tonness of khat to Djibouti. The one flight ferried three tonnes while the second one took a consignment of five tonnes.
“The Djiboutians had sent us distress messages in view of the instability in their normal source market in Ethiopia which is currently facing civil strife. But we are aware that Ethiopia dispatched a minister to Djibouti within a week of our first cargo flight. Thats the type of government aid we require in this country,” added Munjuri. “Many traders came at the airport to receive the cargo and it hit the streets immediately with many saying it was a sigh of relief to get Kenya miraa. The consumers talked of the very good quality.”
Munjuri noted that the exploratory chartered flights have been stopped by Djibouti buyers, citing a need to inspect miraa farms and handling standards, and to meet traders to explore the reliability of supply.
“We were expecting a delegation of six from the Horn of Africa nation last Monday, but they did not make it. They were to be drawn from the top three khat buyers in the country,” said Kimathi Munjuri, the lobby chairman.
