Munya warns coffee society officials over farmers' funds

Agriculture CS Peter Munya has ordered coffee society officials to sign a document permitting farmers to access Sh3billion donated to the sector by the government.

According to the CS, farmers were supposed to start accessing the funds at a 3 per cent interest rate since July 1, 2019, but officials barred them by refusing to sign the document that would see the money released to the various coffee societies' accounts.

Speaking in Embu on Friday, Munya, said the officials have been declining to sign the document, "to satisfy their personal interests".

He gave two weeks’ ultimatum to the Embu county-based society officials to sign the document failure to which he will kick them out of the office, and allow farmers to elect new leaders.

“In two weeks’ time, I will have the county administration taking the documents to various societies and have them signed by the officials. Those who will not sign the document within the two weeks, I will personally lead the farmers in overthrowing them and elect new ones,” said Munya.

He added that some officials have been working with financial institutions to overcharge interest rates to farmers.

The former Meru County governor said the Sh3 billion cherry advance revolving fund has faced corruption challenges since its introduction by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

According to Munya this forced his ministry to intervene and fire some heads in the coffee sector and he might follow the same suit in the county coffee societies until farmers get what is due to them.

Further, Munya urged farmers to continue registration so as to allow KCPU process biometric cards that will allow them services such as access to farm inputs in subsidized cost from the government.

He said the government has funded coffee sector with sh.1billion to ensure farmers benefit with 40 percent subsidized farm inputs.

The CS also noted that the ministry will equip factories with farm inputs that will see the farmers acquiring the products at 40 percent subsidized amount.

“We want to deal with the farmer directly without intermediaries who have been blackmailing the farmers. That’s why am urging each one of you to make sure they register with the KPCU,” Munya said.

He said that Embu county has been among the counties producing low kilos per a single coffee tree due to lack of proper farm inputs.

Embu produces an average of 2kilos per a single coffee tree compared to Kirinyaga county which leads with 4 kilos. “I urge you to improve the quality and quantity of coffee production so that we can manage better profits,” he added.