Gachagua: Ruto used his son and Duale to hijack miraa trade

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched a scathing attack on President William Ruto, accusing him and Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale of hijacking the miraa trade.

Speaking on Saturday, June 21, 2025, during a visit to Maua, Meru County, a region heavily reliant on miraa farming, Gachagua expressed anger over what he described as betrayal by Ruto and his close allies.

“Unajua huyu Kasongo, mimi na huyu Linturi tulikosana na yeye, na hataki tufike hapa Maua kwa sababu anajua tutamwambia ni sababu gani. Yeye alituambia atatusaidia kwa mambo ya miraa… Yeye alifika pale biashara ya miraa, akapanga mtoto wake, na Aden Duale wakachukua biashara ya miraa,” Gachagua said.

“Wewe Ruto ulikuja hapa Igembe na Tigania ukatundanganya. Kumbe ulikuwa na jama, kupitia mtoto wako na Aden Duale mkachukua biashara ya miraa… William Ruto nataka nikuambie nikiwa Maua, headquarters ya Igembe, vile umetufanyia kuiba biashara yetu ya miraa. Na sisi tutakupeleka nyumbani asubuhi na mapema.”

Translation: “You know this Kasongo, Linturi and I disagreed with him, and he doesn’t want us to come to Maua because he knows we’ll expose him. He told us he would help us with miraa… Then he went ahead and gave the business to his child, and together with Aden Duale, they took over the miraa trade.”

“You, Ruto, came to Igembe and Tigania and lied to us. All along you had a plan, through your child and Duale, you grabbed the miraa business. I want to address you from Maua, the headquarters of Igembe, and tell you what you did by stealing our miraa trade. We will send you home early in the morning.”

Miraa trade crisis

Miraa, also known as khat, is a stimulant crop that is a major economic activity for residents in Meru County. However, the trade has faced major disruptions in recent years.

In 2014, the United Kingdom banned the importation of miraa. This came following the British Parliament’s approval of the Government’s decision to reclassify miraa as a Class C drug.

The loss of the UK market dealt a significant blow to the industry, which had relied heavily on exports to Britain. This was followed by Somalia banning miraa imports from Kenya in 2020, amid diplomatic tensions. Somalia later reopened its market in July 2022 after negotiations.

Despite hopes that the reopening would restore livelihoods in miraa-growing regions, local traders and farmers say they have not benefited. Instead, they claim that a few well-connected individuals, have monopolised export licences and distribution channels.

Gachagua’s remarks come amid growing political tension between him and the president, and may reflect deeper divisions within the Kenya Kwanza coalition, particularly concerning resource control and regional representation.