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Kenya
Deputy President Gachagua single-handedly steers ambitious coffee reform

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“East Africa's hotly contested coffee sector”

East Africa

East Africa's hotly contested coffee sector

An important source of foreign currency, coffee exports are the subject of a power struggle between multinational trading companies and the region's coffee-producing countries, chief among which are Ethiopia and Kenya. While governments try to impose reforms designed to favour local producers and intermediaries, international traders, notably German and Swiss, seek to maintain their dominant position. Fuelling the stand-off are new European Union directives on traceability and the social and environmental impact of agricultural products, which will have major repercussions across the entire sector. [...]

Rigathi Gachagua (left) and William Ruto, 30 June 2022. © Noé Michalon/Africa Intelligence

Rigathi Gachagua, who has been tasked with revitalising Kenya's coffee industry, has dismissed a number of experts and officials in the sector. He is also using his open war on multinational trading companies to try to consolidate his political base. [...]

Published on 29.08.2023 at 04:40 GMT Reading time 4 minutes

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Commodity traders

Read this article in our running story

“East Africa's hotly contested coffee sector”

East Africa

East Africa's hotly contested coffee sector

Set up email notifications for these topics

Agriculture and Food Authority
Alfred K'Ombudo
Coffee Directorate
Daniel Mbithi
Daniel Wamahiu Kiongo
Eric Wachira
George N Macgoye
Inooro FM
John Muchwe
Jubilee Party
Julius Korir
Mithika Linturi
Mutahi Kahiga
Nairobi Coffee Exchange
Peter Munya
Rigathi Gachagua
Simon Chelugui
Uhuru Kenyatta
United Democratic Alliance
William Ruto

Kenya
Nairobi risks falling foul of EU deforestation rules

Unlike its neighbours Uganda and Ethiopia, Kenya has yet to announce a national plan to bring its coffee sector into line with European anti-deforestation regulations, having been too preoccupied with other reforms in the sector.

Subscribers only Commodity traders 08.04.2024

Kenya
Ruto refuses to cancel coffee growers' debts

The coffee sector has struggled to find funding since recent reforms sidelined multinational traders. Meanwhile, the government is having a hard time selling its own proposals.

Subscribers only Finance, Politics 22.02.2024

Kenya
Gachagua quietly hands coffee reform reins to controversial Kenyatta-era economist

The deputy president's efforts to shake up a pillar of Kenya's economy are directly inspired by the work of Joseph Kieyah, an academic whom ex-president Uhuru Kenyatta tasked with breathing new life into the sector in 2016 and who is now back in the picture.

Subscribers only Commodity traders, Politics 01.02.2024

Kenyan deputy president Rigathi Gachagua.

Kenya
Mungiki sect at heart of power struggles in central Kenya

Kenya's most populous region is being torn apart over the fate of suspected members of the Mungiki religious sect disbanded by the government. In the background, a battle to win the support of unemployed young Kikuyus is raging between Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his detractors.

Subscribers only Politics 16.01.2024

Kenyan DP Rigathi Gachagua, 12 September 2023.

Kenya
Gachagua coffee reform adviser controversially takes helm of brokerage firm

The Rigathi Gachagua ally Peter Githinji Njuki has not only been appointed CEO of a new coffee brokerage firm but has also obtained a place on a working group focused on the reform of the Nairobi Coffee Exchange.

Subscribers only Commodity traders 04.01.2024

Kenya
Ruto struggles to sweeten sugar sector

The president's bid to invigorate Kenya's sugar industry is taking place in a decidedly gloomy atmosphere. Small producers are deserting the sector, while refineries have been lying idle for months.

Subscribers only Commodity traders, Business 28.11.2023

Kenya
Starbucks pours cold water on Gachagua's plans

The US mega-chain has decided not to buy its coffee directly from Kenyan producers. This is unwelcome news for the country's deputy president, who has been tussling with multinational traders and is now trying to smooth things over.

Subscribers only Commodity traders, Politics 21.11.2023

Kenya's Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in Bogota, Colombia, on 12 September 2023.

Kenya
Gachagua's coffee reforms leave bitter taste in Mount Kenya

Kenya's deputy president is doing what he can to make up for coffee farmers' loss of financial support from multinational traders. But the public funds recently made available may not be enough to keep producers sweet.

Subscribers only Politics, Business 26.10.2023

Kenya
Rigathi Gachagua's coffee reforms rile multinationals

The deputy president, who has embarked on an ambitious reform of the coffee industry, has set his sights on major traders. But with sales on the Nairobi Coffee Exchange plummeting, the main players targeted have no intention of rolling over.

Subscribers only Commodity traders, Politics 09.10.2023

Kenya's Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Angola
VIPs flock to Luanda for Angonabeiro's 25th birthday bash

Portuguese coffee giant Nabeiro's Angolan subsidiary, Angonabeiro, will celebrate its 25th anniversary in late October. Alongside Nabeiro's CEO, Rui Miguel Nabeiro, the Angolan president João Lourenço's presence at the festivities in Luanda is a sign of the firm's importance for the country's economy.

Subscribers only Commodity traders 26.09.2023

Nabeiro's CEO Rui Miguel Nabeiro in Lisbon on 5 May 2023.

Kenya
Kenya coffee reforms pummel multinationals, boost local firms

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's zealous coffee reforms, aimed at giving Kenyan firms a larger share of the spoils, have hit multinationals like Neumann Kaffee Gruppe hard. They are also part of the government's attack on the interests of ex-president Kenyatta.

Subscribers only Commodity traders 18.09.2023

Samples of coffee beans sit at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange on 11 June 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Kenya
By targeting foreign traders, deputy president alienates part of coffee industry

Rigathi Gachagua wants to get the multinationals out of the trading business and to encourage the development of national traders. But the three market leaders have made themselves indispensable to financing the sector.

Subscribers only Commodity traders 28.06.2023

Kenya
Gachagua's coffee sector reforms challenge dominance of foreign traders

Kenya's deputy president is determined to reform the coffee sector and improve the situation of local traders in relation to foreign heavyweights.

Subscribers only Commodity traders 03.02.2023

Kenya
Gachagua seeks to revive glory days of Kenya's coffee sector

Kenya's deputy president has been tasked with overhauling the coffee sector, which is vital to the economy of his native region. He wants to create new institutions to revive a once highly lucrative crop that has been in a slump for decades.

Subscribers only Commodity traders 27.01.2023

Kenya
Deputy President Gachagua aims to reign over Mount Kenya

By uniting his allies from Kenya's central region, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua aims to establish his own political fiefdom. His plans have raised concerns, however, among some of President Ruto's allies, who fear he is trying to go solo.

Subscribers only Politics 18.01.2023

Kenyan Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at his swearing-in ceremony in Nairobi last September.

Kenya
Kenyatta fails to deliver key coffee sector reform

Kenya's coffee sector, once the flagship of national agriculture, is in trouble. The president's plans to reform it have been undermined by tension between the agriculture ministry, the senate and the national assembly, and will probably not happen before he leaves office.

Subscribers only Commodity traders, Politics 05.07.2022

Employees process coffee at the Central Kenya Coffee Mill near Nyeri, Kenya.

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Agriculture and Food Authority
Alfred K'Ombudo
Coffee Directorate
Daniel Mbithi
Daniel Wamahiu Kiongo
Eric Wachira
George N Macgoye
Inooro FM
John Muchwe
Jubilee Party
Julius Korir
Mithika Linturi
Mutahi Kahiga
Nairobi Coffee Exchange
Peter Munya
Rigathi Gachagua
Simon Chelugui
Uhuru Kenyatta
United Democratic Alliance
William Ruto

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Kenya
Deputy President Gachagua single-handedly steers ambitious coffee reform

East Africa's hotly contested coffee sector

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East Africa's hotly contested coffee sector

Set up email notifications for these topics

Kenya
Nairobi risks falling foul of EU deforestation rules

Kenya
Ruto refuses to cancel coffee growers' debts

Kenya
Gachagua quietly hands coffee reform reins to controversial Kenyatta-era economist

Kenya
Mungiki sect at heart of power struggles in central Kenya

Kenya
Gachagua coffee reform adviser controversially takes helm of brokerage firm

Kenya
Ruto struggles to sweeten sugar sector

Kenya
Starbucks pours cold water on Gachagua's plans

Kenya
Gachagua's coffee reforms leave bitter taste in Mount Kenya

Kenya
Rigathi Gachagua's coffee reforms rile multinationals

Angola
VIPs flock to Luanda for Angonabeiro's 25th birthday bash

Kenya
Kenya coffee reforms pummel multinationals, boost local firms

Kenya
By targeting foreign traders, deputy president alienates part of coffee industry

Kenya
Gachagua's coffee sector reforms challenge dominance of foreign traders

Kenya
Gachagua seeks to revive glory days of Kenya's coffee sector

Kenya
Deputy President Gachagua aims to reign over Mount Kenya

Kenya
Kenyatta fails to deliver key coffee sector reform

Set up email notifications for these topics

About Africa Intelligence

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Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

About Africa Intelligence

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Indigo Publications' websites

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Kenya Deputy President Gachagua single-handedly steers ambitious coffee reform

East Africa's hotly contested coffee sector

This article may be accessed by subscribers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

create a free account

East Africa's hotly contested coffee sector

Set up email notifications for these topics

Kenya Nairobi risks falling foul of EU deforestation rules

Kenya Ruto refuses to cancel coffee growers' debts

Kenya Gachagua quietly hands coffee reform reins to controversial Kenyatta-era economist

Kenya Mungiki sect at heart of power struggles in central Kenya

Kenya Gachagua coffee reform adviser controversially takes helm of brokerage firm

Kenya Ruto struggles to sweeten sugar sector

Kenya Starbucks pours cold water on Gachagua's plans

Kenya Gachagua's coffee reforms leave bitter taste in Mount Kenya

Kenya Rigathi Gachagua's coffee reforms rile multinationals

Angola VIPs flock to Luanda for Angonabeiro's 25th birthday bash

Kenya Kenya coffee reforms pummel multinationals, boost local firms

Kenya By targeting foreign traders, deputy president alienates part of coffee industry

Kenya Gachagua's coffee sector reforms challenge dominance of foreign traders

Kenya Gachagua seeks to revive glory days of Kenya's coffee sector

Kenya Deputy President Gachagua aims to reign over Mount Kenya

Kenya Kenyatta fails to deliver key coffee sector reform

Set up email notifications for these topics

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Guinea
Behind the scenes of Mamadi Doumbouya's offensive on Russian miner Nordgold

DRC
Dan Gertler's billions of dollars in royalties at heart of huge legal battle

Kenya
Deputy President Gachagua single-handedly steers ambitious coffee reform

Kenya
Nairobi risks falling foul of EU deforestation rules

Kenya
Ruto refuses to cancel coffee growers' debts

Kenya
Gachagua quietly hands coffee reform reins to controversial Kenyatta-era economist

Kenya
Mungiki sect at heart of power struggles in central Kenya

Kenya
Gachagua coffee reform adviser controversially takes helm of brokerage firm

Kenya
Ruto struggles to sweeten sugar sector

Kenya
Starbucks pours cold water on Gachagua's plans

Kenya
Gachagua's coffee reforms leave bitter taste in Mount Kenya

Kenya
Rigathi Gachagua's coffee reforms rile multinationals

Angola
VIPs flock to Luanda for Angonabeiro's 25th birthday bash

Kenya
Kenya coffee reforms pummel multinationals, boost local firms

Kenya
By targeting foreign traders, deputy president alienates part of coffee industry

Kenya
Gachagua's coffee sector reforms challenge dominance of foreign traders

Kenya
Gachagua seeks to revive glory days of Kenya's coffee sector

Kenya
Deputy President Gachagua aims to reign over Mount Kenya

Kenya
Kenyatta fails to deliver key coffee sector reform