By Antony Gitonga
NAIVASHA; KENYA: ea and coffee growing counties could soon be collecting millions of shillings as revenue if governors succeed in an attempt to collect cess from the farm produce.
The governors from the regions have called for a meeting with the Coffee Board of Kenya and the Kenya Tea Board on Tuesday to address the issue. They noted there was need to use the funds at the county level to improve feeder roads and help farmers improve their production.
This emerged at the end of a two-day workshop for governors in Simba Lodge, Naivasha where a group of the governors discussed the issue.
During their meeting, the governors agreed that cess from coffee and tea should be channelled to the county governments.
According to Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, they wanted to meet the tea and coffee boards so that they could learn how they operate.
“We have scheduled a meeting on Tuesday with the boards of these two sectors so we can learn how to address the loopholes,” he said.
Mr Ruto, who is also the chairman council of governors, noted that the two products generated high revenue and thus the need to know how it could be used to improve production.
Nyayo tea zones
Nakuru Governor Kinuthia Mbugua said the issue of the Nyayo Tea Zones would also be addressed in their meeting.
“We want to learn how the two boards plan to devolve under the new government and also learn how the cess collected is used,” he said.
Other governors present included William Kabogo, Peter Munya, Wycliffe Oparanya, and Moses Akaranga.
And at the end of the meeting, the governors called on the national government to involve them in budgetary matters at the national level.
The council secretary, Kenneth Lusaka, said involvement of governors would address conflict between various arms of the central and county governments.
