The central Kenyan town of Maua is buzzing with activity, thanks to the bountiful harvest of khat, a mildly narcotic plant also known as miraa. But for the last two years and counting, no air shipments of khat have made it to Somalia, one of the biggest markets for miraa, whose leaves and stems are a popular stimulant and appetite suppressant. Mogadishu initially barred air cargo in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but diplomatic tensions between Kenya and Somalia have kept the ban in place. On June 10, Kenya's Agriculture Minister Peter Munya announced that Mogadishu had agreed to resume air shipments of khat. The news has sparked cautious excitement in Maua, where people are increasingly impatient for change. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES