President Kenyatta extends coffee committee term

President Uhuru Kenyatta has extended the term of the Coffee Sector Implementation Committee by one year to give them more time to submit their final report.

The term of the team had expired on May this year. The committee was formed to implement the findings of a taskforce that recommended ways of revamping the struggling sector.

President Kenyatta extended the mandate in a gazette notice published on October 9.

The committee is expected to coordinate and provide strategic leadership in implementation of the coffee sub-sector reforms.

FARMERS

They are also expected to develop a road map and action plan for the revival of the sector that focuses on production, value addition and marketing.

Farmers had contested the recommendations proposed by the taskforce committee formed last year by the President leading to a delay of the implementation of the reforms.

The coffee implementation committee is also required to review the current regulatory framework for the sector and propose changes to align it to the current and future needs.

Also, they are expected to perform other functions necessary to ensure effective coordination of the ongoing coffee reforms and realisation of its objectives.

In the same gazette the Ministry of Agriculture requested the public to present their views on the draft coffee regulations.

Farmers across the coffee growing zones are expected to gather for public participation in Nairobi on October 23 to discuss the contentious issues.

REJECT

They had earlier requested the governors in all the coffee growing zones to reject the contentious reforms that are aimed at reviving the ailing coffee sector.

The farmers lament lack of consultations and that some of the issues they raised to the team were not factored in the recommendations.

They claim the reforms will benefit the rich farmers rather than the ordinary one.

Nyeri County agriculture executive Robert Thuo is among the committee members, who will be led by the taskforce chairman Prof Joseph Kieyah.

He reassured MCAs that the extension of term of the committee will not interfere with his responsibilities to the county.

He noted that the appointment is a great asset to the county since the Council of Governors had seen him fit to represent it.

“The committee operates on a schedule of meetings. When I looked at the assignment I see the value it adds to the Nyeri county government,” he said.

The committee is expected to deliver a report to the President on its findings and resolution on October 10 next year.