Kenyan farmers who are caught by the government growing Ndengu (mung beans) without a license will be slapped with a Sh. 1 million fine or a jail term if a new Bill that is before parliament becomes law.

According to the Mung Beans Bill, a person shall not market, process of carry out large-scale trading in mung beans or its products without obtaining a license from the relevant county government. This license shall be renewed every year.

“A person who contravenes the provisions [of this law shall commit] an offence and [shall] be liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding one million shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both,” the Bill states.

The Bill is being sponsored by Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua. It first underwent the first reading on February 15, 2023. after going through the subsequent procedures, it was passed in February 2024 with amendments. The Bill was then referred to the National Assembly.

According to the Bill, everyone growing Ndengu shall register with the relevant county minister who will be required to maintain a register.

This registration will capture details such as the name of the grower, the location, size and parcel number of the land where he is growing Ndengu, and the variety that he is growing.

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The Bill shall require that all all relevant county ministers establish county licensing committees. At the same time, a county government may enact further legislation to set out the criteria for the issuance of a license and the information that an applicant may be required to submit.

“A county licensing committee may cancel a license issued under this Act where the holder of such a license is in breach of the provisions of this Act or any other relevant national or county legislation,” the Bill states.