Nairobi — Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has announced sweeping reforms in the coffee sector ahead of the 2025/2026 harvest season, aimed at boosting farmer earnings and dismantling entrenched cartels that have long exploited growers.
Speaking during a major open engagement forum at Kianjang'a Public Grounds in Ndia Constituency, Kirinyaga County, the Deputy President addressed over 12,000 coffee farmers and stakeholders, outlining the government's strategy to revive the industry and restore it to its former glory.
"In preparation for the oncoming coffee season 2025/2026, the Government is firming up the coffee reforms to ensure timely availability of fertilizer to farmers, subsidized pesticides and availability of certified subsidized coffee seedlings through better resourcing of the Coffee Research Institute," said Kindiki.
He emphasized that new licensing protocols have been revised to simplify operations within the coffee value chain, a move intended to curb bureaucratic inefficiencies and reduce opportunities for exploitation.
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"The licensing protocols in the coffee value chain have been revised to eliminate multiple licenses and require only one license per person as a miller or broker or marketer," he stated.
The Deputy President said the government expects Parliament to finalize the enactment of the Coffee Act, 2025 and the Cooperatives Act, 2025 in the coming weeks.
These laws, he noted, will introduce robust governance structures for cooperative societies and coffee factories.
"Application of the two proposed laws will provide better governance of coffee factories and cooperative societies and will permanently eliminate cartels and middle men in the coffee sector who have for long benefitted from the sweat of farmers," he stated.
Kindiki cited recent price gains, noting that a kilo of coffee cherry fetched between KSh 110 and KSh 150 in the just-ended season saying that the "return of the coffee boom of old is within sight."
The meeting was also attended by key national and local leaders, including Ndia MP George Kariuki, Kirinyaga Central MP Joseph Gitari, Kenya Seed Company Chairperson Hon. Wangui Ngirichi, Speaker of the Kirinyaga County Assembly Muteti Murimi, members of the county assembly, and representatives of coffee societies and factories.
