Kenyan Coffee Heightens Quest To Penetrate Global Market

The Council of Governors and the National Government have kicked off campaign to put Kenyan Coffee on the global space.

During a tour in Colombia (the World’s greatest producer of coffee), Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Simon Chelugui together with Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka who doubles as the COG Agriculture Chair, emphasized the need for Kenya to explore world markets through best farming practices, research and development to increase coffee production and enhance farmers’ value chain.

“Kenya has one of the best Arabic Coffee in the world but has not been able to position itself in the Global market,” cited Lusaka.

The principal further noted that farmers investing in production to increase quality will bring about healthy competition with world class coffee growing countries.

“We need to improve on our coffee quality and create the best systems that will benefit farmers directly to improve their livelihoods,” he reiterated.

The Bungoma governor further highlighted COG’s commitment to empower farmers through value addition and farmers enumeration to the National Government’s subsidy farm input programs to increase production and income generation.

“We are working around the clock to change the culture of farmer exploitation by setting the best price standards on the global market,” Lusaka affirmed.

He on the other hand divulged that best practices and knowledge acquired from the Colombia high level coffee exposure visit will go a long way in mentoring coffee growing counties.

“31 out of 47 Counties in Kenya are coffee producers and our coffee is top notch so we should not be struggling with markets as is the case currently,” he reiterated.

Additionally, CS Chelugui affirmed the Government’s commitment in forging for bilateral partnership between Kenya and Colombia for the benefit of farmers.

“Our intentions to work closely with the world’s best Coffee producers are alive and its our wish to benefit from what the world has to offer for the betterment of our farmers,” he observed.

Also gracing the occasion were Nyeri Governor, H.E Hon. Edward Mutahi Kahiga, Vincent Marangu, Director Cooperatives Bank, Hon. Patrick Kilemi, Principal Secretary, MSMEs, Michael Timothy , CEO New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union, Jane Kathuku, CEO Kenya Co-operative Coffee among others.