Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua recently revealed that Government’s vigorous actions have successfully dismantled influential cartels within the country’s coffee industry. Speaking in Nyeri County on October 22, Gachagua emphasized the government’s commitment to enhancing the coffee sector by eliminating unfair practices perpetuated by these cartels.

One of president Ruto’s government strategic moves was the allocation of a substantial Sh4 billion advance payment to coffee farmers, a pivotal step in disrupting the cartels’ control. These cartels had been profiting from buying coffee at low prices from farmers and selling it at inflated rates, resulting in significant profits pocketed by the middlemen. Despite previous government appeals for equitable profit-sharing, the cartels adamantly resisted, even going so far as to orchestrate a boycott of Kenyan coffee in an attempt to pressure the government into relinquishing its reform agenda.

Additionally, brokers and middlemen within the coffee sub-sector have consistently favored personal enrichment over the interests of farmers. To counter this, the government is actively working on ensuring that the Sh4 billion directly reaches the farmers, empowering them to a greater extent.

A breakthrough arose from Gachagua’s meeting with American Ambassador Meg Whitman, leading to Starbucks, the world’s largest coffee chain, pledging to directly purchase Kenyan coffee. This signifies a fundamental shift away from the past practice of using Kenyan coffee to enhance foreign blends. The primary objective is to rid the coffee supply chain of middlemen and brokers, ensuring that coffee farmers receive fair compensation.

The government’s unwavering efforts to liberate the coffee industry from cartel influence indicate a promising future for Kenyan coffee, reinforcing its commitment to benefiting the hardworking coffee farmers.