Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Saturday, January 21 decried that his reform agenda in the coffee and tea sectors was more challenging than he anticipated.
While speaking in Othaya, Nyeri County, Gachagua intimated that he would not be distracted by cartels out to tarnish his name.
“President William Ruto has tasked me to eliminate the middlemen and bridge the farmer to the consumer for maximum benefits,
Cartels are vicious, they are rebutting back through propaganda. We will deal with them once and for all.”
“Let the cartels look for alternative sources of revenue. They cannot enjoy the maximum yields while the farmers and their families languish in poverty,
Farmers cannot be selling coffee to middlemen at Ksh 80 while they sell in Europe at Ksh 3000, these are vicious cartels," he added.
He further stated that he met with the Kenya Tea Development Authority (KTDA ) officials and cautioned them not to exploit farmers.
Gachagua lamented that the previous administration was not farmer friendly because of conflict of interest transacting business at the behest of farmers.
"Those in the previous government failed because of transacting business instead of working for the farmer, they own banks, coffee, milk, and tea. Their aim was just profiteering while hiding money abroad," he remarked.
President Ruto through Executive Order 1 tasked Gachagua to lead the government's agenda to reform the coffee, milk and tea sub-sectors.
This led to Gachagua meeting with KTDA Directors on January 16 where they agreed on ensuring small-scale tea farmers reap more benefits.
The DP challenged the KTDA directors to work with the government in its bid to streamline the sector.
“We recognise you as the legitimate office bearers and we want to work with you because the same people you are serving elected us. We want farmers to increase their earnings and live better lives,” he opined.
Gachagua also stated that he would constitute a small team of industry representatives to lead the reforms in the tea sector.
