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Deputy President H.E. Rigathi Gachagua held a pivotal consultative meeting on Monday with key leaders in the agricultural sector, focusing on substantial reforms aimed at increasing earnings for small-scale farmers in the tea industry.
The meeting, held at the Deputy President’s official residence in Karen, was attended by top officials, including Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) Chairman Enos Njeru and Group CEO Wilson Muthaura.
The Deputy President emphasized his commitment to enacting significant reforms in the tea sector, highlighting the importance of these changes in ensuring that smallholder farmers receive fair compensation for their hard work. “We remain focused on delivering drastic reforms in the Tea, Coffee, and Dairy subsectors in our quest to put more money into the pockets of small-scale farmers,” DP Gachagua stated.
The meeting saw the participation of key government officials and stakeholders, underscoring the collective effort needed to drive these reforms. Among those present were:
- Hon. Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya, Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
- Dr. Andrew Karanja, Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development
- Patrick Kilemi, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock Development
- Senator Kamau Murango, Chairperson of the Senate Agriculture Committee and Kirinyaga Senator
- Hon. Patrick Osero (MP Borabu), Member of the National Assembly Committee on Agriculture
- Members of the Parliamentary Tea and Coffee Reforms Caucus
- Stakeholders from various subsectors, including the Kenya Tea Board, New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (New KPCU), KTDA, Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA), and Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO)
During the discussions, DP Gachagua acknowledged the progress made through recent reforms in the agricultural subsectors, noting that these changes have revitalized the industry. “It is noteworthy that reforms in the subsectors so far have brought back vibrancy, and our objective is to sustain and power this trajectory,” he said.
The Deputy President also highlighted the importance of ongoing consultations with stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of the reforms while expanding both domestic and international markets for Kenyan tea. The collaborative approach, he noted, is crucial for the success of the reform agenda.
As the government continues to focus on enhancing the livelihoods of small-scale farmers, the meeting served as a crucial step towards aligning strategies and consolidating efforts to achieve lasting and impactful change in the tea sector.
