Kitui Senator Enock Wambua has moved to correct what he has termed as misinformation about the Mung Beans(dengu) Bill, 2022.
The senator said the information being circulated in the press and social media about the Bill is misleading.
“Specifically, some reports incorrectly claim that Kenyans in general will need to obtain a license to grow mung beans if the Bill is passed. This is a misrepresentation of the Bill’s intention and provisions,” Wambua said in a statement.
He said the Bill aims to provide a framework for the regulation and promotion of the mung bean industry in Kenya.
Mung Bill, 2022, sponsored by Wambua, was officially published on December 30, 2022, and was read for the First Time in the Senate on February 15, 2023.
“Contrary to some reports, the Bill is no longer in the Senate, it was passed and referred to the National Assembly on February 21, 2024,” Wambua noted.
Wambua noted that the Bill requires small and medium-sized mung bean farmers to register with the relevant County Executive Committee (CEC) members.
“This is a common practice already in place for other crops such as tea and coffee,” he said.
The senator explained that the purpose of registration is to allow the government to maintain a register of all mung bean growers, record the location, size and variety of mung bean grown and assess the potential crop capacity within counties and in the country.
He said licensing is specifically required only for persons or entities that intend to market, process or engage in large-scale trading of the crop and related products.
He added that the registration of small and medium-sized growers is intended to help the government better understand and promote the development of the crop.
“This data is crucial for strategising on how to make Kenya’s mung bean industry competitive on an international scale,” Wambua added.
