Kiikuuyo lobbying paying off

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Ever since the government in UK announced they will illegalize jaadka a few months ago, Kiinyaati politicians, from their president to their trade associations from Meru region were making loud noises against the future ban of jaadka from UK.

 

This month, some MPs from Kiikuuyo land have paid a visit to London, lobbying heavily the British MPs. It seems they might have listened. Read on.

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Britain should scrap plan to ban

khat drug - MPs

 

The British government said in July that

it would ban the drug, which is already

prohibited in the United States and much

of Europe. Parliament has yet to approve

the decision.

 

Banning the use of khat, or qat, would

create tension between the police and

immigrants, particularly Somalis who

have settled across Britain, the

committee said in a report.

 

It would also be seen as a betrayal by

Kenya, where growing khat is a big

source of income in some areas, the

panel added. Any damage to bilateral

relations could undermine the two

countries' joint fight against militants.

 

"It is baffling that potential friction,

between already disadvantaged

communities and the police, has not

been fully considered," said committee

chairman Keith Vaz. "We cannot afford

for those who are already marginalised

to be pushed towards criminality or

extremism."

 

Home Secretary Theresa May said in July

that the ban would help prevent Britain

from becoming a hub for the illegal

trade in khat to countries where it is

banned. She also cited evidence that khat

has been linked to "low attainment and

family breakdowns".

 

Kenyan lawmakers told the committee

that a khat ban in Britain could lead to

people once employed in the trade

joining al Shabaab, the Islamist militant

group in Somalia.

 

The committee criticised the government

for its failure to discuss the proposal in

more detail with officials in Kenya, a

former British colony.

 

"Considering Kenya's importance as a

partner in the fight against international

terrorism, and the well-established links

between poverty and radicalisation, the

lack of consultation on this issue is

particularly concerning," the committee

said.

 

Instead of a ban, the committee said the

government should consider licensing

khat imports to help prevent Britain

becoming a hub for traffickers of the

drug.

Reuters