Deputy President Kithure Kindiki with MPs from coffee-growing areas on March 6, 2025. PHOTO/X/ Kithure Kindiki.Deputy President Kithure Kindiki had a busy week, representing President William Ruto in Windhoek, Namibia, at the state funeral of former President Sam Nujoma.
During his three-day visit, the DP held high-level diplomatic discussions with top Namibian government officials, led by Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
The talks focused on strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations to facilitate trade expansion and enhance people-to-people relations.
“Kenya aims to export tea, coffee, horticultural products and skilled labor to Namibia, while Namibia seeks to export minerals, wines, and other beverages to Kenya,” Kindiki wrote on his X page.
On Thursday, Kindiki met with Members of Parliament from coffee-growing regions, including Rift Valley, Central, Eastern, Western, and Nyanza.
The DP said the meeting aimed to build consensus on coffee sector reforms to enhance the crop’s value chain.
The 78 MPs are advocating for harmonised laws and regulations to reduce deductions from farmers' produce and increase their earnings.
Additionally, they are pushing for the government to offset debts owed by coffee cooperative unions, freeing farmers from loan recovery deductions.
They are also seeking an increase in the Cherry Fund from Sh2 billion to Sh6 billion to support coffee farmers.
On Tuesday, Kindiki met with bishops and senior ministers of the gospel from Embu, representing the Full Gospel Churches of Kenya (FGCK) and the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA).
“The government appreciates the role of the church in promoting peace, harmony, social justice, and national cohesion,” Kindiki said after the meeting.
He assured faith leaders that the government would continue respecting the prophetic role of the church and maintaining close ties with religious institutions.
According to Kindiki, the partnership will help preserve the nation’s moral values for the benefit of present and future generations.
On the same day, Kindiki held a meeting with top government officials to discuss key priority value chains under the Agriculture Pillar of the Kenya Kwanza Manifesto.
The meeting, held at his official residence in Karen, was attended by representatives from relevant ministries, departments, agencies, and the Council of Governors Secretariat.
Speaking on Monday after receiving a technical briefing on the progress and productivity of priority agricultural value chains, Kindiki emphasised the significance of agriculture in Kenya’s economy.
He noted that the sector accounts for nearly half of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provides a livelihood for almost 90% of Kenyans.
“Agriculture plays a crucial role in household incomes across Kenya. Whether through crop farming, livestock keeping, fisheries, the blue economy, or primary sector activities like mining, a significant portion of the population depends on this sector,” he said.
