๐ด๐๐, 16 ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฏ.
The Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, chaired by Kirinyaga County Sen. James Kamau Murango receiving submissions on The Coffee Bill, 2023, and Tea ( Amendment) Bill, 2023, in Embu County.
The Committee paid a courtesy call to Embu County Governor H.E Cecily Mutitu Mbarire.
The principle object of the Coffee Bill, 2023 is to provide for the development and regulation of the Coffee industry in Kenya. The Bill proposes to reorganize the coffee industry by transitioning the regulatory and commercial roles currently undertaken by the Agriculture and Food Authority to the Coffee Board of Kenya.
The Bill further seeks to transition the research of coffee currently undertaken by the Coffee Research Institute under the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation to the Coffee Research Institute.
The Tea (Amendment)Bill, which is sponsored by Bomet County Sen. Hillary K. Sigei seeks to amend certain provisions in the Tea Act, 2020, to protect the tea growersโ proceeds from mismanagement by factories. The Bill also aims to incentivise value addition of tea by exempting value added tea from payment of the tea levy.
The Bill further seeks to liberalize the tea industry. This will be done through direct sales of tea overseas.
Members present during the meeting are;
Embu Senator Alexander Mundigi, MP -Vice Chairperson
Trans Nzoia Senator Allan Chesang, MP
Nominated Senator Beth Kalunda Syengo, MP
Bungoma Senator David Wakoli Wafula, MP
