The Mountain Journal
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has asked the National Government to allow rice
farmers to buy the Mwea Rice Mills (MRM) when it is offered for privatization.
Waiguru said because farmers own 45 percent of MRM, it is only logical that they are
given the first priority to buy the 55 percent national government’s stake in the facility.
The Governor said the County government will help the farmers in acquiring the
National Government shares so that they can run the factory.
Speaking during Jamhuri day celebrations at Good Samaritan Secondary School
grounds in Mutithi, Mwea, she said the government does not run businesses and
therefore MRM factory should be sold to the rice farmers.
“In so doing, the farmers will operate and manage the mill to be a profit-making venture,
providing an avenue for the farmers to gain economic independence. As a county, we
will make sure that any agreements done, will leave our rice farmers more empowered
and not feeling disenfranchised,” Waiguru said.
The governor accused a section of local politicians of using the MRM privatization issue
as a 2027 campaign tool instead offering advise for farmers to place themselves
strategically to buy the facility.
She asked farmers to organize themselves and join rice cooperatives so as to pull
resources together and buy the facility.
Waiguru said the farmers stand to reap more by supporting the initiative by the
government to make the rice mills self-sustaining and a profit-making facility.
“It is, therefore, my duty to advise the farmers to place themselves strategically to take
up the offer to buy the government shares when that time comes,” Waiguru added.
The Council of Governors (COG) chair urged Kenyans to continue supporting President
William Ruto’s efforts towards recovery of the economy.
Waiguru said the country is on the right path and soon it will be out of the woods.
While using an analogy, Waiguru likened the country’s economy to a patient admitted to
the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) whose transition through the HDU, the general ward and
eventually recovery is normally painstakingly long, but in the end, the results are seen
when the patient is discharged from hospital after full recovery.
“We are well aware of the high cost of living occasioned by high taxation; however, I
assure you that we are on the right path and soon we will be out of the woods. I
encourage all of us to have faith that the Kenya Kwanza will shortly, get this country to
its growth path again,” the Governor said.
To control the Golden Apple Snail that has been ravaging rice crop at the Mwea
irrigation scheme, Waiguru said the county in collaboration with the national government
is working around the clock to get another pesticide that can eliminate the new
migratory rice pest.
She said a pesticide used in pilot programme meant to control the spread of the snail
had not been effective.
The Governor asked farmers to be more patient as researchers look for another
pesticide that can eliminate the invasive snail.
“This pilot programme was not very successful and therefore we have gone back to the
drawing board and in collaboration with the National Government, our researchers are
working around the clock to get a cure for the snails,” she said.
To support Kirinyaga coffee farmers effectively participate in the Nairobi Coffee
Exchange (NCE), Waiguru said the County Government will support Kirinyaga Slopes
Coffee Brokerage Company Limited with Ksh.50 million to construct warehouses for
aggregating coffee.
Waiguru said the support will help boost the capacity of the company so that its able to
handle all the coffee produce from farmers.
The Governor said that Kirinyaga has been one of the fastest-growing counties under
devolution and expressed her commitment to the implementation of her “Mountain
Cities Blue Print 2032.”
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