Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has urged Kenya to abandon the export of raw coffee beans and instead focus on value addition to empower local farmers and stimulate economic growth.

Speaking during the debate on the Coffee Bill (Senate Bill No. 10 of 2023), on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, urged the government to make it illegal to export raw coffee.

Omtatah emphasised that coffee is not merely an agricultural product but a “political and international crop” that requires strategic policy interventions, lobbying, and robust infrastructure for value addition.

“We cannot continue exporting raw beans and then re-importing finished products,” Omtatah stated. “We should even make it illegal, like some European countries have done, to export raw material.”

Reforms in coffee industry

The outspoken senator decried the persistent poverty among coffee farmers in Kenya, despite the global demand for the beverage. He pointed out the sharp contrast between the paltry earnings of farmers and the high retail cost of branded coffee products such as Nescafé.

“You go to central Kenya where they grow coffee, and you see what a farmer earns compared to the price of a tin of Nescafé. The farmer hardly makes anything,” he added.

Senator Omtatah called on lawmakers to ensure that the final version of the Coffee Bill includes strict measures to promote value addition within the country. He proposed that Kenya build local processing factories and develop a full value chain from the farm to the coffee cup, all under Kenyan control.

Expanding coffee farming across Kenya

The senator also urged the government to explore and invest in other regions of the country that have been identified as viable for coffee farming. By decentralising the industry and removing what he termed as the “fear and politics of coffee,” Omtatah believes that the crop can become a sustainable source of income for more Kenyans.

“We need to invest in areas shown by research to grow coffee profitably.” he said.

Senator Omtatah concluded by reiterating the importance of retaining value within the country and breaking the cycle of dependency on foreign processors. The Coffee Bill 2023 seeks to reform Kenya’s coffee sector, streamline operations, protect farmers, and boost productivity. Omtatah’s fiery remarks are likely to influence key amendments as the bill moves through the Senate.