Is miraa a drug?: categorizing Kenyan khat

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Cultural Anthropology
• Sociology

Background:

• Miraa/khat is a stimulant with varied cultural and economic significance in Kenya.
• Societal perceptions of miraa/khat range from acceptance to strong condemnation.
• The debate is influenced by global drug control discourses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the diverse perceptions of miraa/khat in Kenya.
• To analyze the influence of local and global discourses on these perceptions.
• To investigate the categorization of miraa/khat within drug control frameworks.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of perceptions and discourses surrounding miraa/khat.
• Examination of arguments for and against miraa/khat classification.
• Literature review of 'war on drugs' rhetoric and its impact.

Main Results:

• Strong approval exists in miraa/khat cultivation areas (Nyambene Hills).
• Significant disapproval and denunciation are present in other Kenyan societal segments.
• The "war on drugs" rhetoric facilitates conflating miraa/khat with other illicit substances.
• Counter-arguments frame miraa/khat use as "traditional," "cool," and an "economic miracle."

Conclusions:

• Perceptions of miraa/khat are complex and contested.
• Global drug control narratives significantly shape local debates on miraa/khat.
• The categorization of miraa/khat remains a central point of contention in Kenyan society.