The Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has reiterated of his commitment to streamline the cartel controlled coffee and tea sectors following the rolling back of gains achieved by the tea and coffee reforms taskforce initiated by retired president Uhuru Kenyatta.
Yesterday, the DP assured farmers that he will continue spearheading reforms in the coffee, tea and milk sub sectors despite resistance from cartels.
In a sharp contradiction to the reforms initiated by the immediate former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya that managed to dislodged the Kenya Tea Development Authority’s (KTDA) undue control of tea factories, a move that has since been reversed, Gachagua alleged the previous administration had not been willing to take on the middlemen because of the conflict of interest.
Recently, Gachagua meet directors formerly ousted KTDA directors whom the farmers had decried for micromanaging factories and illegal direct sale of tea to the export market.
The Deputy President noted that he has already had a meeting with KTDA directors and agreed on a framework of implementing reforms. He added that engagements with all concerned parties in other subsectors are ongoing and farmers should expect results soon.
“We will be fair to them; we will give them a notice and an ultimatum. It is very challenging, but we will succeed. I ask you to support me on this journey,” he said.
“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 fighting back through propaganda. We will deal with them once and for all.” Gachagua observed.
He added: “Let the cartels look for alternative sources of revenue. They cannot be enjoying the maximum yields while the farmers and their families are languishing in poverty.”
The DP emphasised that President Ruto and himself have no interest in the said subsectors and therefore, reforms are guaranteed.
In the Executive Order No. 1 of 2023, President Ruto tasked Gachagua to oversee reforms in various sub-sectors, key among them, coffee, tea and milk.
He spoke yesterday at Kagonye Secondary School grounds in Othaya Constituency, Nyeri County, during the burial of Mary Wangeci Kambono, the mother of Bishop Daniel Kambono, who is the Deputy General Secretary of Pentecostal Evangelist Fellowship of Africa (PEFA), Gachagua affirmed that he will ensure the dignity of farmers is restored.
He delivered a special message of condolence to the family from President William Ruto, who described Mama Wangeci as a God-fearing woman and a pillar of the church and the community. He wished the family peace, comfort and strength as they come to terms with the demise of their 73-year-old mother.
On his commitment to leading reforms in the agricultural sector, the Deputy President said he will not be cowed by anyone.
Gachagua said before the August 2022 elections, he led elected members from central Kenya, in discussions with Dr Ruto on their wish-list. After elections, he found it best to place Gachagua at the centre of the reforms.
On the road projects, the Deputy President promised to unlock construction of all stalled roads across the country, particularly those abandoned over non-payment of the contractors. He said the government is looking for about Sh900 billion to clear the pending payments.
“In the next few months, we will pay the contractors so they resume and complete the roads,” Mr Gachagua said
The Deputy President was responding to concerns raised by the area leaders during the burial. The leaders said several projects were abandoned by the previous administration over perceived support for Ruto against his main competitor, Raila Odinga.