Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has asked governors from coffee growing areas to participate in the stakeholders conference, which he has convened this week in Meru from between June 8-10, 2023.
Speaking when he chaired the Intergovernmental Budget Economic Council at his official residence in Karen, Nairobi, on Monday, Mr Gachagua said the reforms in the coffee sub-sector require high-level interventions from all stakeholders, including the governors for easier implementation.
“We will hold a stakeholders Conference on coffee reforms in the subsector. I urge the governors and County Executive Committee Members to attend in person. We will come up with measures to make sure the farmers get commensurate returns for their sweat,” he said.
The Deputy President said the reforms will have far-reaching implications that will, among other issues, ensure coffee becomes the leading foreign exchange earner for the country.
Favourable and predictable market through longterm reforms, he said, will boost the quantities of coffee.
On the ongoing crackdown on illicit brews and drug abuse, the Deputy President asked the governors to allocate license revenue to rehabilitation initiatives.
He said the number of public rehabilitation centres in the country is limited while private facilities are too expensive for poor families.
Private facilities charge from about Sh100,000 and even more per month, depending on the facility.
“This is too expensive for many. We urge counties to consider that all revenue collected from licensing be availed to deal with rehabilitation and advocacy,” he said.
The Deputy President said the national government will present a proposal to the Council of Governors on a framework on funds utilisation.
He also called for cooperation among State agencies including the National Police Service, National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse in harmonising the licensing policies.
“We call for a multisectoral approach to licensing for the national government to bring sanity,” he said.
Gachagua has been leading the war against Illicit alcohol and drug abuse, especially in Central and Rift Valley regions.
The Deputy President said the multi-agency approach in the crackdown against illicit alcohol and drug abuse is bearing fruit, and treatment facilities will support those recovering.
