Gachagua slams MPs for 'ruining coffee markets'

Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua yesterday made a scathing attack against two MPs, accusing them of actively working to sabotage the county’s coffee pool marketing initiative.

Gachagua accused MPs Kabando wa Kabando (Mukurwe-ini) and Peter Weru (Mathira) of being in a clique of local leaders who worked tirelessly to ensure the scheme did not succeed.

“They wrote letters and sent them to the United States of America, giving second thoughts to potential buyers who had already committed to taking our produce,” said Gachagua adding: “I went to the US thrice and every other time, I was hunted down like an antelope.”

Gachagua accused the two MPs of helping slow down sales to potential buyers including one he had brought into the country early in the year.

“The correspondence by the Mukurwe-ini MP was particularly hurting because it was being written on the strength of membership of the Parliamentary Agriculture Committee. This correspondence appeared to have a lot of credibility to the buyers because of the parliamentary committee tag,” said Gachagua.

Mourn mother

He was speaking at Kangocho Coffee Factory in Mathira in the first meeting to announce payments to farmers who marketed produce under the county pool marketing system. 

However, Weru dismissed the governor, saying he was trying to cover up his series of costly mistakes. “We initially supported the initiative because we thought it would be for the benefit of farmers, but discovered it was being bulldozed without legal backing,” he said.

He said the governor wanted to replace the system of brokers with another set.

Kabando however declined to speak about the accusation but later, Nyeri town MP Esther Murugi responded on his behalf. “We wish to ask the governor to substantiate his claim and pay farmers their dues. What he is giving them is not worth it. We also urge him to let Hon Kabando mourn his mother in peace,” said Ms Murugi.

While addressing farmers, Gachagua claimed that vested interests in the coffee trading chain and politicians had hatched an elaborate scheme to frustrate any moves to free farmers from a colonial-like bondage.

Die of hunger

Meanwhile, residents of Theta ward in Juja sub-county in Kiambu have claimed that a woman has died of hunger. They are now calling for relief food as hunger continues to bite. Residents of Kimbo village, which is one of the most affected by starvation, claimed that a 70-year-old elderly woman died after going for days without food.

The villagers further claimed more residents are facing starvation and called for emergency food relief to prevent losing more lives to starvation. According to Jacinta Wangui, a resident, the elderly woman died due to starvation after she allegedly stayed for close to one week without food.

Theta Chief Peter Kamau acknowledged there is severe hunger in the area, saying more than 2,000 residents are in dire need of emergency relief food.

The chief however denied that a resident had loft life due to starvation. “It is true the area is experiencing famine but we do not yet know of any death. I call upon residents to stop making alarming allegations,” the chief said.

He said he has already raised the issue with the Government though no help has been forthcoming yet. The administrator attributed the current hunger strike in the area to poor rainfall that has been experienced this year, resulting to poor crop yields.

George Koimburi, a businessman who led a food distribution exercise to the hungry said the situation on the ground is alarming and called for quick intervention. During the exercise, residents received 12 bags of maize, maize flour and 200 litres of cooking oil.

The situation is the same in Gikumari location in Ruiru as residents are also experiencing starvation.

Gikumari sub-chief Margaret Njambi confirmed that the area is facing starvation, saying the most affected people are the elderly, orphans and large families.

However, Ruiru Deputy County Commissioner Mercy Gatobu denied knowledge of starvation in the area, saying the chiefs have not officially informed her of the situation in their jurisdictions.