Small-scale coffee farmers from the Mt Kenya region have called for the postponement of the KPCU elections until the team formed to streamline the sector prepares its report.
The members of the Peasant Coffee Farmers Association of Kenya also said the management of the Kenya Planters Cooperative Union did not consult stakeholders before organising the elections slated for June 14.
Led by their chairman Peter Wangonya the farmers said they came to know about the elections through the media.
He said some stakeholders were locked out of the process and denied the chance to pick directors of their choice in a transparent manner.
Wangonya said the farmers are waiting for President Uhuru Kenyatta to conclude reforms and restructuring of the coffee industry through the national task force on the coffee sub-sector.
He said there is no need to hold elections before then.
Wangonya said KPCU should rebrand its coffee mills and hand them back to farmers.
He said this will enable them make savings on milling rates, manage milling losses and safeguard the quality of their coffee.
Wangonya asked KPCU management to work with coffee millers in the counties to help them to access major coffee buyers based on quantities and qualities.
The farmers, drawn from seven coffee growing counties, also want the Kahawa warehouse to be handed over to them.
“The warehouse will enable us store our coffee and sell it when the prices are high to maximise profits. This will also help us prevent theft and maintain the right quality of coffee,” Wangonya said.
He said the warehouse will also help them establish several blends of coffee based on qualities received from farmers across the counties.
This coffee will be sold locally and internationally.
Wangonya spoke during a thanksgiving ceremony for the successful registration of their association in Murang’a town on Wednesday.
He asked the government to support their efforts to consolidate their produce across counties to enable them get and sustain specific markets which will improve the coffee sector and empower coffee farmers.