The farmers expressed fears saying Kiambu county government has failed to honour a Sh30 million pledge, which was one of the conditions they had agreed with the donor towards the revival of the Limuru Milk Processing plant.
The farmers drawn from Limuru, Kikuyu, Lari and Kabete subcounties are now planning to write to President William Ruto seeking his intervention.
They want the President to compel the county government to honour it's pledge failure to which a Sh100 million grant by the World Bank will be withdrawn.
Efforts to contact the governor were futile with our calls going unanswered.
Contacted, county communication director Eric Wainaina dismissed the matter as a social media gossip being circulated by the governor's detractors.
According to the Limuru Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society manager Bedan Kamau, the World Bank had committed to partially fund the buying of an Ultra Heat Treated (UHT) milk processing machine.
"The machine costs Sh145 million and the World Bank had committed to grant us with Sh100 million. We as farmers had also put aside Sh15 million while the county government had promised to donate Sh30 million towards the project, " Kamau told the media in Limuru on Monday.
He added that it's only the county government which was yet to honour it's pledge thereby jeopardising the projects.
Kamau said World Bank had given the facility management a December last year deadline but local leaders sought an extension to give governor Kimani Wamatangi-led administration time to fulfil it's commitment.
"The governor promised to write a formal letter to the donor seeking an extension. Our fear is that the money will be withdrawn unless prompt measures are taken," he said.
Limuru MP Kiragu Chege said the plants' management, locals leaders and some farmers had visited Wamatangi in his office and discussed the matter.
"Dairy farming is the backbone of our people's economy and the installation of the UHT machine can add value to farmers' milk and increase productivity," he said.
Ndeiya farmer Peter Muchendu who is also a political analyst challenged the governor to tell farmers the truth instead of taking them in circles.
"Wamatangi lied to the directors and leaders that he had written to have an extension of December 28, 2022, project realisation deadline be extended. However, upon following up, we have established that no letter has been written by the county government in regard to the issue and that is how farmers will lose Sh100 million funding," he said.
-Edited by SKanyara
