Kenya has secured an opportunity to host the Coffee Producer and Roaster Forum in November 2024.
Making the announcement on Friday from Colombia, DP Rigathi Gachagua said the forum, which is the first in Africa is in line with the Kenya Kwanza Administration’s quest to connect local farmers to consumers of their produce for better returns.
”It will be the first in Africa. It is a big win for Kenya and a big win for Africa to host this coveted event, which will showcase to the world, our coffee, placing our farmers at the negotiating table on how much they want,” DP Gachagua said.
He noted that his engagement with the Producers and Roasters Forum (PRF) Chief Executive Officer Henry Wilson and the subsequent presentation by the government of Kenya at the Seventh Coffee Producer and Roaster Forum in Medellín, Colombia, gave Kenya a moment to execute its case on why its coffee is the best, besides the reforms it has put in place to streamline the subsector.
”Kenya is ready to host this apex event to the continent, which will also highlight the investment opportunities in the country in specialty coffee, especially value addition. We commit to make this event a success for the Kenyan farmer and the consumer of the Kenyan coffee,” the DP added.
The DP also appealed to the Colombia National Coffee Federation to collaborate with Kenyan farmers to improve yields and returns and revealed Kenya had a lot to learn from the South American nation as it seeks to revive the sector.
“We would like you to help us as we bring back the Coffee Research Foundation as we borrow good lessons from your research capacity in this country,” Gachagua said.
He was accompanied by Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi, PS Julius Korir, Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok, Chairman of the Senate Agricultural Committee Senator Kamau Murango, Chairman of the Parliamentary Coffee Caucus MP Duncan Mathenge, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy Senator Wahome Wamatinga as well as Colombia’s Ambassador to Kenya Pedro Leon.
