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In March 2020, the government of Somalia banned international flights including those ferrying the mild stimulant into the country. This was in an effort to contain the spread of covid-19. With khat being the main import from Kenya, farmers and traders especially in Meru bore the brunt of this move.

The months following the ban revealed the big picture for Kenya. Somalia was not willing to reopen its market unless some longstanding diplomatic tensions were eased. I’m here to meet a farmer who can no longer wait for diplomacy to reopen the market and is now considering abandoning the trade altogether.