Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's efforts to reform the coffee sector got a shot in the arm on Sunday, May 14, following a visit to Kenya by Colombian Vice President Francia Elena Márquez Mina.
In a statement, the office of the deputy president announced that Kenya would seek to boost agricultural ties with Colombia.
In particular, the two countries will work together in looking for ways to strengthen the coffee industry in Kenya.
“Currently, the Kenya government is collaborating with the Colombian government in various sectors including agriculture, environment conservation, science and technology, culture and education.
“The Kenyan government seeks to cultivate cooperation in these sectors, with a specific focus on the coffee subsector,” the DP revealed.
The Deputy President further revealed that Kenya had already approached Colombia for its expertise in coffee production.
Colombia is the world’s largest producer of Arabica coffee and third in general production of coffee after Brazil and Vietnam.
According to the Deputy President, Mina’s visit was informed by a Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations signed by the two countries in 2021 whose main objective was enhancing the partnership and engagements existing between them.
After Kenya Kwanza took over power, Gachagua was tasked with reforming the coffee and tea industry.
Through executive order number one of 2023, President William Ruto tasked his deputy to head coffee reforms in the country and eliminate brokers and loopholes that fleeced farmers in the country.
After the visit of the Colombian Vice President, Gachagua stated that he would convene a four-day stakeholder conference in Meru County on the implementation of coffee reforms.
“Next month we shall hold a major conference to discuss this matter which I was tasked by the President” the DP announced on Sunday, May 14.
“The purpose is to agree on what needs to be done and the MPs and Senators will take it from there and come up with regulations and legislation to protect farmers from middlemen,” the Deputy President added.
