Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi has explained why parliament has yet to pass the Coffee Bill, 2023 currently before the House.
Responding to a statement by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wamumbi stated that there are key issues that need to be addressed first.
Speaking Saturday during a funeral service in Gichugu, Kirinyaga, Gachagua challenged the MPs to act with the same zeal they used in impeaching him to pass the Bill.
"The same speed and efficiency that you displayed in the National Assembly to impeach Rigathi Gachagua, use the same to pass the Coffee Bill, 2023 to become law," Gachagua said.
"Let it pass and be gazetted at night so early in the morning President William Ruto can assent it." This, he said, includes the Cooperatives bill also before the parliament.
"The reason why we can not pass the coffee Bill with speed as you want, we must first deal with all the plans you had...," Wamumbi said in a post.
He alleged that as it is currently, only one company is buying all the coffee produced in Nyeri.
According to the lawmaker, the closure of Mathira Coffee Millers was to clear the way for some individuals to have control on the sale of produce.
"You know that Sh3 per kilo on every Nyeri coffee farmer was being diverted," he stated. "I will first open the Mathira coffee Miller, deal with Alliance Berry limited and then we pass the bill," said Wamumbi.
He further urged the MPs particularly those from the Mt Kenya region to ensure funds to clear coffee debts are released.
He said out of Sh7 billion approved, only Sh2 billion has been disbursed.
"We have no problem with anyone. That is all that we are requesting so that coffee farmers can continue to double their efforts in the farm," he said.
