By JOB WERU
About 1,000 coffee farmers, affected by the break up of coffee societies in Nyeri County in the 1990s have renewed calls for payment of coffee they allegedly delivered to a miller.
The farmers from Mukurweini District claimed a certain miller who was contracted to mill their cherry was withholding their proceeds, more than ten years after delivery.
The farmers, operating under Withare Farmers Cooperative Society, also demanded a share of Sh68 million that was reportedly paid to their giant cooperative, Gakuyu Coffee Cooperative Society.
Mr James Maina Mugo, the National Coordinator of Counties Efficiency in Development (Cedev), said the farmers had been leading desolate lives while their funds were being held.
"The background fact is that in the year 2000/2001, a group of coffee farmers from Mukurweini known as Withare Farmers delivered over 1,000,000 kg of coffee berries, which is yet to be paid for," noted Mugo, in a letter sent to Mukurweini Police.
Pursue payment
Maina said the farmers had resolved to revive the issue and pursue payment for the coffee berries, and seek payment of their share of Sh68 million received by the cooperative.
The Coffee Board of Kenya paid the funds to Gakuyu Coffee Cooperative, and they were to be shared out among four coffee factories that constituted the society.
These included Withare, Ndimaini, Gatina and Kirigu coffee factories, all in the neighbouring Mathira constituency.
"Gakuyu Coffee Cooperative Society paid up the funds to other factories but left out Withare. The farmers are ready to pursue the funds by all means," said Maina.
Working committee
In a meeting held at Mweru playground, the farmers formed a working committee, which will push for payment of the dues.
More than 400 farmers attended the meeting.
Mzee Ezekiah Njogu told The Standard that Withare farmers was a splinter group of the troubled Mukurweini Farmers Cooperative Society.
Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletter
"We decided to unite and join Gakuyu Coffee Factory which was in the neighbouring constituency, to find a better market for our produce.
But t is sad that we ended up being swindled," said Njogu.
The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
join