Kenyan farmers on Thursday faulted the government for dragging its feet in the publication of rules to govern direct sales of their produce to overseas buyers, which they say will guarantee them better returns.
The long awaited rules will make room for the so-called "second window" of marketing Kenyan coffee, which will compliment the current auction system.
"We have been denied the right to decide the price of our coffee," Peter Njoroge, a coffee farmer told a meeting attended by top industry players. "All these problems in the coffee sector are caused by politicians, if they had the will power, they would help us."
Despite a slight increase in coffee earnings, many Kenyan farmers still produce coffee at a loss, their earnings cut by a myriad of middlemen through whom their coffee has to pass because of the current auction method.
Kenyan coffee is used to blend beans from other regions. The government has agreed to allow the second window but lack of rules have delayed implementation.
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