Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi has blamed his predecessor, Peter Munya, for destroying Kenya’s coffee export market in South Korea.
Linturi told Kenyans in South Korea on Tuesday, November 22, that the Asian market, despite being an affordable market for Kenyan coffee, was underutilized.
“My predecessor somehow messed up the export market for coffee here in Korea,” Linturi alleged.
He added that the former CS did not provide the necessary support to coffee farmers in Meru county when an opportunity to increase Kenya’s coffee export to South Korea arose.
He went on to say that an alleged agreement between South Koreans and Meru Cooperative Union members allowed for direct coffee exports from Kenya to South Korea.
“But the necessary instruments and requirements that were supposed to be done were not done,” the CS argued.
Linturi, however, stated that his ministry was prepared to expedite the ratification process.
He also promised to ensure that Kenyan coffee is sold in South Korea so that expatriates can enjoy one of the world’s best beverages.
“We will be able to get better prices for coffee for our farmers that are doing it in Kenya,” the CS added.
Linturi is among those who accompanied President William Ruto to South Korea, along with CSs Alfred Mutua (Foreign Affairs), Moses Kuria (Trade), and Eliud Owalo (ICT).
