Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has announced that the Government will provide 24-hour armed security to all coffee factories across the country.
Speaking on Tuesday, August 15 during the reopening of Nairobi Coffee Exchange, Gachagua noted that the move would help in taming the rampant theft of farmers' produce.
"The Government will provide 24-hour armed security to all coffee factories across the country. This will prevent the rampant theft of the farmers' produce," Gachagua stated.
Gachagua mentioned that the reopening of the Nairobi coffee exchange would help in bringing the farmer back to the fore in deciding the price of their coffee.
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"We know cartels are fighting back to forestall coffee reforms. I know it will be messy and ugly, but the outcome will be beautiful- the farmer will smile to the bank. We ask the farmer to be patient; we will deliver," the DP said while addressing the gathering.
The move comes barely months after Gachagua convened the national Coffee Reforms Conference in Meru and Kericho where they agreed to introduce a raft of changes to ensure farmers benefit from their produce.
“I want to tell the coffee cartels that their time is up. They must give way and align with us or we get you out. It is not business as usual. This is the administration that will sort out the issues of cartels in coffee, tea and milk and restore the dignity of the farmer,” the DP warned.
