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Kenya’s miraa (khat) has officially been approved for export to Djibouti, according to an announcement by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA).
The approval follows successful bilateral trade missions, including an October 2024 Kenyan delegation to Djibouti and a follow-up visit by Djiboutian officials to Kenya in November.
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“Djibouti has opened its market for Kenyan miraa, subject to compliance with regulatory requirements,” AFA said in a statement, calling the move a major milestone in efforts to broaden Kenya’s miraa export destinations.
AFA encouraged local traders to take advantage of the opportunity, while emphasizing the need to meet Djibouti’s import rules and standards, as well as Kenyan regulatory conditions.
This breakthrough comes shortly after the Agriculture Ministry revised miraa prices earlier in 2025. Prices for all main varieties were increased, with Grade 1 miraa rising to Sh1,300 per kilogram from Sh700, Grade 2 to Sh700 from Sh350, and Alale from Sh500 to Sh1,000.
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The new pricing structure was based on recommendations from the Miraa Pricing Formula Committee, established under the Crops (Miraa) Regulations, 2023. The committee reviews data on production, demand, and market trends to advise the sector.
Miraa, or Catha edulis, locally including varieties like Muguka, is primarily grown in Meru, Tharaka Nithi, and Embu, and has expanded to counties such as Machakos, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Marsabit, and Laikipia as a key source of income.
The crop supports millions across the value chain, with estimates showing over 4 million people depend on it indirectly, and about 10 million consume miraa daily worldwide.
