Farmers fault State’s deal with the EU

By PAMELA CHEPKEMEI

Small scale farmers have opposed the decision by the Government to enter into Economic Partnerships Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union.

Through the Kenya Small Scale Farmers Forum, they told a Nairobi Court yesterday that the Government had not complied with some requirements before sealing the agreement.

The farmers argue that they should be involved in the process of negotiations because the outcome and the final agreements will affect them.

Lawyers Pheroze Nowrojee and Julie Aulo for the forum, told the court during the hearing of the case that the Government had not provided for participation of stakeholders and citizens before the agreement is signed.

“We are challenging the deficiencies in the process by which the final decision will be reached,” Mr Nowrojee told the court.

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The farmers want the court to declare that they have a right to participate in the ongoing EPA negotiations.

He told Judges, Isaac Lenaola, Mumbi Ngugi and David Majanja that EPAs will have considerable consequences for domestic economies.