Somalia has agreed to lift a two-year ban on importing khat (miraa) from Kenya, according to the Agriculture CS Peter Munya.
Munya on Friday disclosed that it would take a fortnight before the final paperwork is complete to enable the execution of the agreement.
“While we are still doing the paperwork, this country is also negotiating for access to Kenya’s fresh fish market. All the negotiations are complete,” CS Munya said.
Kenya’s exports to Somalia are estimated at Ksh 13 billion according to government data released in May. Imports from Somalia were worth Ksh 106 million in 2021, the figures show.
Munya further disclosed that direct flights between the two countries would resume from Tuesday, 14th June 2022, a move that would enable the crop to be flown directly from Isiolo airport.
A bilateral air service agreement between the two nations is expected to be signed on the sidelines of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) meeting scheduled for Tuesday in Nairobi.
Somalia closed access to its market for Kenya in 2020 following a political fallout between the two countries under former President Mohamed Abdullahi “Farmaajo”.
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