A file photo of miraa displayed for sale.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Miraa is a drug just like cocaine and heroin and should be banned in Kenya, Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi has said.
Mwinyi said miraa cripples the economy as it affects health and makes users unproductive.
“Why do we have double standards? Why does the government want to support miraa when the effects are the same as illicit brew?” he posed.
Speaking to the Star on Monday, he said marriages have broken as chewers are rendered irresponsible.
“Even those who sell the drug do not chew it. Miraa is simply for people meant to be destroyed. We only want to retain Meru county for political reasons,” he said.
He urged the government to find an alternative.
On June 12, Mombasa MCAs shot down a motion by Nominated Mombasa MCA Fatma Swaleh, to ban miraa chewing in public vehicles.
The motion proposed a Sh100,000 fine, or six-month jail sentence for operators of matatus, tuk-tuks, boda bodas and taxi operators found chewing miraa while on duty.