NYERI leaders have urged the UK government not to ban miraa.
The leaders said miraa is the only cash crop in Upper Eastern and its ban will ender many farmers jobless.
Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua, Kieni MP Mathenge Kanini, Nyeri Town MP Esther Murugi and Othaya MP Mary Wambui asked British High Commissioner Christian Turner to appeal to his government to reconsider its decision.
The leaders were speaking at St Phillip Church in Narumoru, Nyeri county on Sunday during a ceremony to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
The event was attended by Turner.
He said the ban on miraa is not particular to Kenya.
"It applies to all producers in many countries who have been selling the produce in the United Kingdom," Turner said.
But he said he will raise the matter with his government.
Gachagua said the British government should have given Miraa farmers in Kenya a concrete timeframe to allow them to shift to an alternative crop for their livelihoods.
Turner said his government is well aware of the big and negative economic impact of the ban and will be working to mitigate it.
He said the Kenya-British strong trading ties shall remain and there are no efforts to frustrate this important link.
"We all know that Britain is the second largest business partner of Kenya and this is a fact that shall remain and even improved to a higher level," Turner said.
Kieni MP Mathenge Kanini said Parliament has formed an ad hoc committee to review the ban of which he is a member.
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