MP Gathoni Wamuchomba Opposes New Coffee Levies, Calls for Parliamentary Action
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By John Kariuki
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has fiercely opposed the government’s new levies on coffee farmers, warning that they will slash farmers’ earnings and were introduced without proper approval. She termed the levies irregular, unconstitutional, and exploitative, accusing the government of betraying farmers after promising better coffee payments in 2024.
The Finance and Planning CS gazetted a 1.8% charge on coffee brokers for transactions at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) and higher annual membership fees for brokers under the Capital Markets Authority (CMA)—moves that Parliament had rejected in December 2024 but were reintroduced without approval while Parliament was on recess.
Wamuchomba is demanding answers on the legality of the new charges, whether there was public participation, and if President William Ruto sanctioned them. She vowed to lead a parliamentary fight to nullify the levies and urged farmers to mobilize their leaders to protect their interests.
With Kenya’s coffee sector being a key economic pillar, the MP insists that reforms should empower farmers, not burden them with hidden taxes. The battle for fair coffee trade is now in Parliament—will the farmers win?
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