On Saturday, February 15, the Ministry of Agriculture announced an increase in the prices of miraa, aiming to reflect the current market trends and better support local farmers. Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mutahi Kagwe confirmed that the new prices were carefully reviewed to ensure that miraa farmers are not left disadvantaged.
Effective immediately, the price of Grade 1 miraa has risen to KSh1,300 per kilogram, up from KSh700. Grade 2 miraa will now be priced at KSh700 per kilogram, an increase from KSh350, while Alele miraa will be sold at KSh1,000 per kilogram, up from KSh500.
Miraa farming has been facing significant challenges, including unfavorable market prices and the negative impact of middlemen, which have been draining the farmers’ profits. In response to these struggles, farmers had previously organized a boycott of miraa harvesting to demand fairer prices and a more sustainable approach to the industry.
The new pricing structure follows several meetings held earlier in February 2024, where leaders from miraa-growing counties gathered to discuss solutions. These discussions culminated in a meeting on February 13, 2025, between Ministry officials, farmers, traders, and the Miraa Pricing Formula Committee, where the revised prices were negotiated.
Water CS Eric Mugaa supported the new pricing, describing it as a necessary short-term relief to prevent further losses for farmers. He assured both farmers and traders that the government would continue negotiations to improve the situation and create a more sustainable framework for the miraa industry in the future.
