This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
Published on June 18, 2020, a new miraa-based chewing gum, Marqan, has been launched in Kenya, sparking debate over its safety and regulation.
Maore Ithula, the CEO of Rek East Africa Ltd, a company behind the product, claims that the gum makes chewing miraa easier, more stylish, and hygienic. The gum is manufactured by Rek East Africa Limited and is sold strictly to buyers above 18.
However, the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) has raised concerns over the safety of the product, stating that it has not issued a standardisation mark for the gum. Kebs Head of Quality Assurance and Inspection, Bernard Nguyo, accused the firm of not following the correct legal procedure to have the new product registered.
Nguyo stated that products containing miraa as an ingredient are classified as psychotropic substances, whose manufacture and sale are controlled under the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act. He added that Kebs had written to Rek East Africa Ltd in response to its application for registration, insisting that the right legal procedures to guarantee safety must be followed.
Rek East Africa Ltd, however, argues that Kebs should be aware that miraa is a legal crop recognised by the government. Ithula denied that the herb was classified under narcotics or psychotropic substances, stating that miraa is grown in Kenya, exported, and recognised by the government.
The Kirdi Public Relations Office admitted that it helped Ithula come up with the chewing gum, stating that Marqan chewing gum was incubated and developed in the food technology division of Kirdi and was also linked to Kebs for certification.
Despite the safety concerns raised by Kebs, the chewing gum is already retailing in Eastleigh, Nairobi, one of the largest markets of miraa in the country. The product has been welcomed by the Nyambene Miraa Traders Association, which sees it as a ray of hope for the herb's farmers whose market has been shrinking rapidly.
However, not everyone is enthusiastic about the new product, especially die-hard fans of chewing miraa in its raw form. William Mithika, a farmer and consumer, stated that raw miraa is more potent and gets the consumer high faster.
