Bungoma Senator David Wakoli ….Photo/IP
NAIROBI
Senator David Wafula Wakoli, chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, today chaired the Mediation Committee on the Coffee Bill, 2023, guiding a thorough review of proposed amendments.
The bill seeks to overhaul Kenya’s coffee industry by establishing the Coffee Board of Kenya and the Coffee Research Institute, while clearly defining the roles of national and county governments in regulating, developing and promoting the sector.
During the session, Wakoli emphasized the need to protect farmers and strengthen the industry’s governance.
He noted that the mediation process is critical for reconciling differences between the Senate and National Assembly versions of the bill.
If passed, the legislation will transfer regulatory and commercial functions from current authorities to the new Coffee Board and assign research responsibilities to the Coffee Research Institute.
The bill also proposes a development levy to fund research, marketing, regulation, and county-level projects.
Farmers have welcomed the initiative, hoping it will reduce exploitation by middlemen and cooperatives and improve the efficiency of coffee production and marketing.
The Mediation Committee will continue to work on a harmonized version of the bill before it returns to Parliament for final approval.
Once enacted, the reforms are expected to bring more transparency, stronger oversight, and better support for Kenya’s coffee farmers.
