FILE – Kenyan President William Ruto greets supporters in Meru while holding a bundle of freshly harvested khat during a rally with local farmers.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Kenya is intensifying efforts to expand its khat exports, placing the stimulant leaf at the center of President William Ruto’s trade agenda, even as disputes and competition threaten the country’s largest market in Somalia.

Kenyan exports stalled in February when farmers in Meru, the country’s main khat-producing region, suspended shipments over pricing disputes. Growers accused middlemen of paying below-market rates, while others alleged that unauthorized taxes were being imposed on the trade.

In response, Kenya’s agriculture minister announced higher official prices and introduced a formal grading system for the crop. Ruto later told Meru farmers that his administration would seek new opportunities through greater engagement with Somaliland and Jubaland, signaling plans to diversify Kenya’s khat markets.

Kenya’s dominance in Somalia is also being challenged by Ethiopia. Reports from 2023 and 2024 stated that large volumes of Ethiopian khat were smuggled into Somalia, undercutting Kenyan suppliers and eroding their market share.

Khat, a mild stimulant widely consumed across Somalia and East Africa, remains a cornerstone of Kenya’s rural economy. Thousands of farmers in Meru County depend on the trade for their livelihoods, while Nairobi faces growing political pressure to stabilize prices and secure long-term export routes