The government has no roles in coffee prices, says Kaguchia 

Photo/Mukurwe ini MP John Kaguchia

The Mountain Journal 

editor@themountainjournal.co.ke

The impressive debate on the  coffee prices has sparked an issue on who should be accredited between three lawyers.

Mukurwe ini MP John Kaguchia lauded the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua  to success after he initiated policies that guided the sector.

 The coffee prices have been an agenda in all the political gatherings in the mountain region.

During a talk show on Kameme FM this week, Kaguchia, a member of Coffee Tea Parliamentary Association differed with Lawyer Adrian Kamotho on who should be celebrated on the success of the prices.

Kamotho attributed the best prices to the government initiated reforms, accusing the former Deputy President of alleged mismanagement forcing the sector to be placed under the Office of the President to ensure it is streamlined.

“ With the coffee being administered from the Office of the President, this is why the prices have skyrocketed,” said Dr Kamotho, also a farmer in Murang’a.

But the Mukurwe ini MP observed that  policies that were enacted through the support of Gachagua, assisted the separation of  roles among the players in the value chain.

“ Kenyans know the truth that Gachagua played a key role in ensuring implementation of Coffee General Regulation 20198 succeed,” said the MP.

. The regulations ensured the millers do their work  as well as the other players who include the coffee brokers, Warehouseman and  buyers ending the former confusion that riddled the sector, he added..

He said the ‘Wamunyoro’ initiative helped the Kenya coffee farmers in Mt Kenya  and western regions  to achieve better results.

Mukurwe ini constituency, he said, farmers were celebrating of the better price following initiative fronted by the former Deputy President who had interest in agriculture.

“ This is the genesis of the better coffee payment  as compared in the previous years when the coffee value chain was in chaos, as the millers assumed the roles and marketters and buyers and dictated prices,” said Kaguchia.

 Kaguchia blamed the government for the delay that led to the disbursement of the much awaited coffee debt waiver.

Lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui said the government needs to formulate regulations that will benefit the farmers.

“ Gachagua left a legacy on effective administration of coffee, the reason the farmers are happy,” said Kinyanjui.

 Peter Gikonyo, a listener and a coffee farmer, said it would be prudent  for the government  to address all the farmers’ needs  to ensure there is increased production.

“ Coffee requires timely application of chemicals and fertilisers as the  delay  will have a negative impact thus low production,” said Gikonyo.