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Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Saturday, June 10 inspected tea farms in Meru ahead of much-anticipated reforms in the sub-sector.

The deputy president, who is in Meru for a high-level consultative Coffee Stakeholders’ Conference, said plans are underway to convene a similar conference bringing together tea farmers who continue to protest against exploitation from cartels and brokers in the sub-sector.

The DP said this after an early morning nature walk in the Meru Forest on day two of the coffee stakeholders meeting.

“Connecting with nature is healthy; it triggers fresh ideas and new perspectives to life. That is why we must work together in preserving the environment, moreso forests, for posterity.

“Ahead of day-two of the highly interactive Coffee Reforms Stakeholder’s Conference, it was refreshing taking a nature walk into the Meru Forest this morning,” Gachagua said in a tweet.

He continued: “On my way, I inspected tea farms as plans for the Tea Subsector reforms Conference get underway.”

Connecting with nature is healthy; it triggers fresh ideas and new perspectives to life. That is why we must work together in preserving the environment, moreso forests, for posterity.

Ahead of day-two of the highly interactive Coffee Reforms Stakeholder’s Conference, it was… pic.twitter.com/lQDodpO4Pn

— H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, EGH (@rigathi) June 10, 2023

Gachagua vows to crack whip

Yesterday, the country’s second in command said the government would do everything possible to break the long chain that is between the farmer and the consumer by establishing long and lasting reforms in the coffee sub-sector.

“We are going to work methodically and systematically issue by issue, day and night to bring back the dignity of the farmer,” he said.

The coffee summit, being held at Three Steers Hotel in Meru town, is expected to come up with proposals that will entrench reforms in the sector.

President William Ruto tasked Gachagua to lead coffee reforms in Executive Order No. 1 of 2023.