- Gachagua said in October, he will travel to Germany to look for more markets for Kenyan coffee.
- In September, he was in Colombia, where Kenya signed a joint trade agreement for partnership with the South American nation.
Image: DPCS
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said Kenya is eying direct sales of coffee to the US, Germany and other lucrative markets.
This, he said, is part of the ongoing reforms of linking farmers to buyers for better returns.
Gachagua said Kenya has initiated discussions with key stakeholders in the United States.
"Most of our coffee is bought by Americans from the brokers. I met the US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman early this week. We discussed marketing our coffee in the US," he said.
He said a high-level meeting will be held on actualising the venture, which seeks to eliminate brokers from the supply chain, adding that no amount of blackmail will stop the reforms.
"Those who currently buy coffee from us have decided to use their monopoly of power to sabotage the farmer. They have blocked the auction so that we can panic and fall for their tricks. We are not relenting. I will look for more markets until we break even," he added.
The DP said the partnership will increase Kenya's coffee market share in the United States and uproot intermediaries, marketers and millers who have for a long time been blamed for farmers' dwindled income.
Gachagua said in October, he will travel to Germany to look for more markets for Kenyan coffee.
In September, he was in Colombia, where Kenya signed a joint trade agreement for partnership with the South American nation.
He said the US and Germany are among the top five consumers of coffee globally.
"The brokers use Kenyan coffee to blend low-quality varieties produced from other countries to increase quality and value. We will meet another group of traders from the Middle East. We are doing well and I urge patience from farmers," he said.
The Deputy President said the government has set aside funds to buy the beans to cushion the farmers if the middlemen continue their boycott and create a crisis.
The reforms include the introduction of one dealer one license system where a licensed coffee miller will not be authorised to be a marketer.
The DP cited an example of Barichu Coffee Cooperative Society, which has secured a deal with a Chinese coffee trader who wants to buy their coffee at a minimum of Sh100 per kilogram.
He added that President William Ruto's administration is committed to increasing the country's food security.