Gachagua inspects coffee farms ahead of second day of summit

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Saturday went for a nature walk in Meru Forest.

Gachagua said it was healthy to connect with nature as it triggers fresh ideas and new perspectives to life.

The DP urged Kenyans to work together to preserve the environment and to mitigate climate change.

During the nature walk, the DP visited several coffee farms for inspection.

The DP is in Meru for a two-day coffee summit to address farmer challenges.

The summit began on Friday where he affirmed his support for coffee farmers in Meru.

"Ahead of day two of the highly interactive Coffee Reforms Stakeholder's Conference, it was refreshing taking a nature walk into the Meru Forest this morning. On my way, I inspected tea farms as plans for the Tea Subsector reforms Conference get underway," he said.

On Friday, before the summit,  Gachagua strolled the streets of Meru county with school-going children.

Gachagua took an early morning walk ahead of the second day of his conference with coffee stakeholders.

"It was fulfilling interacting with children and other industrious Kenyans braving the chilly morning on their way to school and work," Gachagua said.

"Indeed, regular exercises keep one physically and mentally fit for maximum productivity."

The deputy president said he shall deal thoroughly with cartels in the coffee sector to restore the dignity of Kenyan farmers.

“I want to tell all those people who have been eating money from the farmers - the cartels, the middlemen- your time is up. You must give way and align with us or we get you out. You must agree that it is not business as usual,” Gachagua said.

He said the intended Coffee reforms are aimed at enabling farmers to increase their earnings.

"We won't fail. We will remove brokers so that farmers can sell their products directly and earn more money. This is the time to reform it," Gachagua said.