The Eastern Africa Grain Council held a comprehensive stakeholders’ feedback session yesterday on 15th January 2024. The forum brought together over 50 representatives from various sectors within the grain industry including members of EAGC. The session whose focus was on the proposed Warehouse Receipt System (WRS) Amendment Bill 2024 witnessed the active participation from farmer cooperatives, processors/millers, financial providers, warehouse operators, and other sector stakeholders. The event was graced by the presence of Mr. Joseph Kimote, Country Director and Vice Chairman of EAGC also, the Managing Director of NCPB, along with the Warehouse Receipt System Council (WRSC) team, led by CEO Ms. Lucy Komen.
In his welcoming remarks, the EAGC Executive Director Mr. Gerald Masila, provided a historical context of the WRS, emphasizing its role in fostering structured grain trade. He acknowledged the enactment of the WRS Act of 2019 and highlighted the challenges reported since its implementation, underscoring the necessity for amendments. Mr. Masila further encouraged stakeholders to contribute feedback to enhance the functionality of the warehouse receipt system.
The CEO of WRSC Ms. Lucy Komen, informed the forum about the notice for the WRS Amendment
Bill 2024, initiated on 9th January 2024, and the ongoing public participation period until 24th
February 2024. She emphasized the need for amendment due to challenges faced in the past three
years.
Ms. Komen identified three key areas of focus in the WRS Amendment Bill 2024 as follows:
- Transfer of WRSC to the Ministry of Trade and investments following Executive Order No. 1
of 2023. - Harmonization of licensing roles ensuring exclusive licensing authority for the Council to
avoid duplication. - Promotion of cross-border trade allowing the use of WRS for imported goods.
