CS Murkomen's order on miraa sparks outrage in Meru
Eastern
By
Phares Mutembei
| Sep 02, 2025
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen's order for a crackdown on miraa drivers over rising cases of road accidents has sparked outrage among farmers, traders, and transporters.
Nyamebene Miraa Traders Association Chairman Kimathi Munjuri said that the CS was using the miraa traders as scapegoats for a problem whose causes were known.
He said there were police roadblocks on the road that should enforce traffic laws and criticised the CS for issuing the order for the police to target miraa drivers.
"Instead of facing the problem of the inability of the police to enforce the law, he opts to make empty orders to police whom we now know he is in no place to order," he said.
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Mung’athia Mwila, a miraa farmer from Muringene in Igembe Central and chair of the Miraa Traders Association’s transport committee, termed the order unfair.
“Miraa drivers no longer overspeed like before. They don’t exceed 120 km/h. The overspeeding problem is with Muguka Probox drivers,” he claimed.
He said that miraa was a highly perishable good that must reach the market quickly to preserve freshness but denied claims that their drivers were involved in accidents.
He explained their vehicles, carrying miraa worth up to Sh6 million, must move quickly but within speed limits to avoid losses from delays.
Speaking at a Jukwa La Usalama in Kirinyaga, Murkomen linked miraa vehicles to fatal road accidents, saying efforts to engage transporters had failed.
“We will not allow lives to be lost because of miraa vehicles. We have tried to engage them, but they have refused. I have instructed the Traffic Commander in the Central Region to conduct a serious crackdown to ensure they follow traffic rules,” said Mr Murkomen.
However, traders and transporters said Murkomen should not blame miraa vehicles for the large number of fatal accidents on Kenyan roads.
Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma has appealed for the completion of Isiolo International Airport and the development of Gaitu Airstrip to ease the movement of people and agricultural produce.
The call is supported by Miraa Farmers, Traders, and Pluckers Welfare Association Secretary General Adamson Muriki.
"The government must understand that miraa is a perishable product that must take the shortest time possible to reach consumers who are far away in various countries. For this reason, the government should fast-track the construction of Isiolo airport to avert such accidents since the issue of distance to the airport will be sorted out by saving over 90 per cent of time. Additionally, it will reduce the cost related to transport and other long-distance logistics," Mr Muriki said.
He added, "I do not think CS's comments were in good faith. He has been so consistent and insistent on the miraa transportation issue as if he has something hidden behind his sentiments. Why is he not disturbed by the rising cases of road accidents that have claimed many lives in various parts of the country but capitalises on a few incidents? Isn't this an irony or unfair targeting of miraa people for unknown reasons? I want to ask the Ameru leaders to rise and find out what the reason is for this kind of unnecessary attack on our green gold."
Muriki said the community was suffering from an unstable, dwindling miraa market.
"Isn't this enough suffering for Miraa farmers? We will no longer take his hatred towards us lightly again, as the Ameru people. We wait to hear from our leaders, who are silent as if nothing is happening," he said.