• Also coming top on Nyoro's priority list are tea sector reforms.
• He took over from Governor Muthomi Njuki of Tharaka Nithi.
Image: FILE
Kiambu Governor James Nyoro has said his first priority as the chair of the Council of Governors' Agriculture committee will be to engage the national government on coffee reforms.
He said on Tuesday that the council plans to acquire coffee mills for counties to process and market their own brands.
“There is a huge demand and ready markets for Kenyan coffee and tea abroad. We shall champion reforms and set up advisory committees to assist the growing counties,” he said.
Nyoro was elected to the position last Friday when all CoG posts were filled. He took over from Governor Muthomi Njuki of Tharaka Nithi at a time when county government leaders have had serious disagreements with the Ministry of Agriculture on reforms.
Nyoro said he will also work with Parliament to review the implementation of the Coffee Regulations, 2019, and the Coffee Exchange Regulations, 2020.
Last year, governors moved to court to challenge the coffee regulations. They said the national government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, passed the regulations without public participation.
They added that they have to be consulted on any matter related to agriculture as the sector is a devolved function under the Constitution.
“The national government’s role in the Constitution is strictly limited to policy, while implementation of these policies and other agricultural functions are a preserve of the county governments,” the governors said.
Also coming top on Nyoro's priority list are tea sector reforms. “The coffee and tea subsectors have been in turmoil for a long time, resulting in the frustration of farmers.
"Our first order of business will be to regularise the sectors and revive cooperatives. We shall also prioritise the dairy sector to increase milk production,” Nyoro said.
The governor commended the national government for its efforts to eradicate the locust infestation but called for support to counties in adapting to climatic and seasonal changes.
"We intend to introduce early maturing crops across the counties and to train agricultural extension officers for them to give farmers information on how to cushion themselves against the effects of drought," Nyoro said.