Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma has condemned the long‑standing culture of speeding among miraa transporters, describing it as “foolishness” that must be abandoned in favour of safer and more sustainable practices.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Miraa Promotion Committee at the county headquarters, Mutuma said the reckless driving associated with miraa deliveries exposes both drivers and other road users to unnecessary risks. He challenged the newly formed committee to rethink outdated practices that have normalised dangerous driving in the rush to preserve freshness and meet delivery timelines.
The governor argued that relying on speed as the primary solution in the miraa business was unsustainable, noting that decades of doing things the same way had not translated into meaningful progress.
“It is good that we admit that it is foolish. As a community, are we going to remain foolish for decades since miraa was invented? When will we ever say we have abandoned foolishness and chosen to become smarter?”
Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma
Mutuma questioned why traders continue to justify speeding out of fear that the crop could lose value if delayed. He insisted that stakeholders must develop systems that guarantee timely delivery without endangering lives.
“If you were late yesterday, you should not be late today. Find a solution so that you arrive on time without killing people, risking the lives of others and losing your own in the process,” he said.
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Among the reforms proposed, the governor suggested introducing refrigerated vehicles to transport miraa more efficiently and eliminate the need for rushed deliveries. He also urged stakeholders to embrace value addition, arguing that miraa’s commercial potential extends beyond chewing. “When we think about miraa, let us not think only about chewing. Let us think about drinks, cakes, chewing gum and even biscuits. We can even supply miraa products to people who work through the night, including police officers, military personnel, nurses and doctors,” Mutuma said.
He lamented that despite global advances in agriculture and logistics, the miraa sector has remained stuck in the same transport model for years. He urged the committee to spearhead reforms that would modernise the industry, improve safety, and expand market opportunities.
By John Majau
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