Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is leading a determined charge to liberate the country’s vital coffee sector from the clutches of exploitative cartels. His task force, aptly dubbed “The Rigathi reforms,” has set its sights on empowering farmers and shaking up the industry’s entrenched power dynamics.
The reforms target the very core of the problem; the coffee marketing and sales system. The plan is to bypass exploitative middlemen and establish direct trade routes with lucrative global markets like the US and Europe. This would not only fetch farmers fairer prices but also boost Kenya’s foreign exchange earnings.
Cartels have long plagued Kenyan coffee, squeezing farmers’ profits through artificially low prices. Gachagua has likened the fight against them to wresting milk from a suckling calf, acknowledging the potential for fierce resistance. He has even implored Kenyans for prayers, seeking divine wisdom to navigate the challenging task ahead.
Gachagua’s commitment to the cause is evident in his repeated denunciations of the cartels’ harmful practices. He views his task force as a beacon of hope for Kenyan coffee farmers, aiming to revitalize the industry and secure a brighter future for those who depend on it
