Kenyan mung bean farmers are celebrating a hard-fought victory as the National Assembly has dealt a decisive blow to the controversial Mung Beans Bill 2022.

The bill, which aimed to regulate the production, processing, and marketing of mung beans, had faced fierce opposition from farmers who warned that it would have stifled their livelihoods.

The bill, which was widely seen as punitive, was defeated during its second reading, bringing relief to growers and traders alike.

The proposed law aimed to make it mandatory for anyone involved in the marketing, processing, or large-scale trading of mung beans or their byproducts to obtain a license from county governments.

Additionally, it required all growers to register with their county executive committee (CEC) members in charge of agriculture.

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These officials would have been tasked with maintaining a register of mung bean farmers in each county.

The bill warned, “A person shall not market, process, or carry out large-scale trading in mung beans or mung bean products unless the person has obtained a license from the relevant county government. A person who contravenes the provisions of subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both.”

However, the stringent measures faced strong opposition, particularly from farmers, who viewed the proposed regulations as burdensome.

The National Assembly, responding to these concerns, overwhelmingly voted to reject the bill.

According to a notice issued after the session, “The national assembly by a majority has rejected the Mung Bill, 2022 at the second reading stage. The bill which seeks to regulate the production, processing, and marketing of mung beans in Kenya will now proceed to mediation.”

The rejection of the bill has sparked jubilation among farmers, who view the outcome as a victory against legislation that could have hindered their livelihoods.

While the bill now heads to mediation, the future of its proposals remains uncertain, offering temporary relief to the farming community.