Nairobi – Kenya
A special coffee caucus consisting of 71 Kenyan parliamentarians both from the upper house and lower house has been established in the country.
The caucus is specifically meant to address the current state of coffee, which used to be East Africa’s leading cash crop, its stakeholders and the crop’s future prospects.
The caucus led by Githunguri legislator Gathoni Wamuchomba, Kangema MP Peter Kihungi and Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa both from coffee growing areas have strongly criticized the state capture of the coffee sector in Kenya.
This was during a meeting with coffee stakeholders whereby the report of the national task force on coffee sub sector reforms through Prof Joseph Kieyah was tabled and reviewed by the caucus.
“It’s time to deliver on the Guarantee Minimum Returns (GMR) the one we were telling Kenyans especially coffee growers so that a coffee farmer is self dependant on basic matters like taking their children to school and affording basic needs let’s say no to neocolonialism on coffee sector,” maintains MP Wamuchomba.
The legislators condemn the giant German companies that have monopolized the sector by dominating on the intermediary part as brokers , marketers of the produce and at the same time buyers while using different names of companies at every level
Peter Kihungi Mp for Kangema has asked the speaker of the house to put away with the “Munya legislation” that were alleged to be recommended when the nation was busy on Campaign mode.
Munya the former Agriculture minister in the former President Uhuru’s cabinet had met coffee stakeholders and forged away forward on how the farmer would benefit from coffee produce .
The task force and the caucus have agreed to fight for the coffee farmer until leverage is met promising farmers that the sector within the East Africa region will be in high demand hence increase on the profit margins.
“Today marks a day of remembrance to our farmers back at home the era of cartels tailoring our produce has come to an end, this caucus has the full support of the president since we promised relief to our coffee farmers back at the village.
Karungo Thang’wa – Kiambu Senator
The development comes a few months after the Tanzanian government also launched special initiatives to revive coffee which used to be the country’s top export commodity in the 60, 70s and early 80s.
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