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| Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Photo: Joseph Kanyi |
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has tasked Mt. Kenya Members of Parliament with hastening the passage of the Coffee Bill, 2023, with the same speed at which they were able to impeach him from office.
At a funeral service on Saturday in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County, Gachagua called on legislators to hasten the bill, citing the good work he had been able to do in office on coffee sector reform.
"The same speed and efficiency that you displayed in the National Assembly to impeach Rigathi Gachagua, use the same to pass the Coffee Bill, 2023 to become law," Gachagua said.
Gachagua insisted that early passage and gazettement of the bill would secure the gains made in the coffee industry and lay the foundation for a strong framework for future developments.
Responding to the call for urgency by Gachagua, Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi listed reasons why farmers should not expect the Coffee Bill to sail through anytime soon.
In a post, Wamumbi acknowledged the need for action but pointed out that key issues must be addressed first.
The current legislative efforts, he said, have to ensure that all outstanding plans touching on the coffee sector are sorted out.
Wamumbi further pointed out the concern of coffee sales control, where only one company is buying all the coffee produced in Nyeri at the moment.
He said that the reason for closing Mathira Coffee Millers down was a strategic move to have a few individuals monopolize the market.
"You know that Sh3 per kilo on every Nyeri coffee farmer was being diverted," he added, saying the bill should not be taken in unless Mathira Coffee Mill is reopened and issues with Alliance Berry Limited are resolved.
He further urged fellow MPs, especially those from Mt. Kenya region, to ensure money allocated for clearing coffee debts is released to the farmers.
According to the MP, of the Sh7 billion approved, only Sh2 billion was disbursed.
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