Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua has said that coffee farmers in the country will now sell their coffee directly to the United States of America (USA) without brokers.
Gachagua said that there are ongoing talks with the world’s largest coffee chain, Starbucks Corporation, to sign a landmark deal that will see farmers double their incomes.
The DP, who was speaking during a church service in Nyeri County, said that the deal will revamp the coffee sector in the country and get rid of the middlemen.
“I thank the President because he spoke with Ambassador Meg Whitman and she has planned for Starbucks to come and buy our coffee directly,” he said.
Gachagua said that the infiltration of brokers in the UK market has led to farmers getting paid very little necessitating the move towards USA which has a bigger market.
Early this month, the Cabinet approved an additional Ksh4 billion for coffee farmers from the Ksh3 billion released earlier.
Coffee farmers will be earning Ksh80 for a kilogram of cherry from the current Ksh20.
By Obegi Malack
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