Kenyan farmers caught by the government growing ndengu (Mung Beans) without a license will be fined SH1 million or jailed if the new bill before Parliament becomes law.
According to the Mung Beans Bill, a person shall not market, process or carry out large scale trading of Mung Beans or it’s products without obtaining a license from the concerned county government. This license shall be renewed annually.
“A person [who contravenes the provisions of this bill shall be guilty of an offense and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or both,” the Act states.
Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua is sponsoring the bill. It had its first reading on February 15, 2023. It went through the next stage and was approved in January 2024 with amendments. The bill was then referred to the National Assembly.
According to the law, all ndengu growers will be required to register with the concerned county commissioner.
This registration will take into consideration details of the grower’s name, location, size and the amount of land under which he is growing ndengu and the varieties he is growing.
The Bill will require all relevant county ministers to set up county licensing committees. At the same time, the provincial government may make new regulations to define the criteria for issuing a license and the information an applicant must submit
The Act states: “A county licensing committee may revoke a license issued under this bill when the holder of such license violates the provisions of this bill or any other applicable state or provincial law. ”
