Nairobi MCAs want the national and county governments to set up trading places for miraa merchants as well as abolish cess levied on transporters of the commodity.
The ward representatives, mostly from the Miraa-growing Meru region, urged the Ann Kananu-led administration to identify an area in the county to act as a permanent market for miraa traders.
Led by nominated MCA Doris Kanario, the county legislators raised concerns over the continued operation of the miraa traders on roadsides in Eastleigh.
Eastleigh is the main business hub of the stimulant grown mainly in Nairobi with most of the miraa sourced in Nyambene region is sourced from Eastleigh.
The market covers among other places Mlolongo, Rongai, Machakos, Westlands, Parklands, South B and South C, and Nairobi West.
The traders usually sell miraa on roadsides especially in Pumwani and it is not good for health because of things like dust in such places. The county government should therefore set aside an area to act as a market for them, said Ms Kanario.
Further, the MCA, who is also gunning for Mombasa County Ward seat in 2022, implored the county government to follow in the footsteps of California Ward and remove the cess charged on miraa transporters.
On Monday, Mombasa County Governor Hassan Joho ordered for the withdrawal of cess payments for miraa transporters to Mombasa County.
I would like that removal of cess payments to be done in Nairobi County. Removing such barriers will help the miraa traders and transporters, she said.
According to the 2015 Nairobi City County Revenue Act, miraa outlets are supposed to pay Sh 2,000 every month as levy for waste collection.