The Mountain Journal
editor@themountainjournal.co.ke
Coffee Cooperative Societies leadership expressed their anger on the government ploy to cripple the sector through secretly imposing the direct payment model.
The leaders from all the coffee growing counties said the action by the Cooperative Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya by passing the cooperative societies is an avenue that will sabotage the sector.
In the Coffee Caucus forum at Kenya Utalii College, Nairobi convened by Gitunguri MP Gathoni Muchomba and National Coffee Cooperative Unions (NACCU) Chairman Mr Felix Murethi, the leaders dared the government to implement the controversial direct payment model, as they will form an independent coffee auction platform abandoning the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE).
They said the directive by Oparanya on implementation of the direct payment model contravenes the Coffee General Regulation 2019.
The Githunguri MP pleaded with President William Ruto to listen to the plight of the coffee farmers and scrap the proposed model.
“ The model will introduce more transaction charges to the farmers, via the exchange of the dollar to the Kenyan currency, and lead to the collapse of the saccos in the rural set up,” said Gathoni.
She also called on the Council of Governors to rise up and defend the interest of the coffee farmers from being misdirected.
Kenya Seeds Company Chairperson Wangui Ngirici who attended the forum asked the coffee farmers to avoid politicizing the coffee farming, but remain firm and safe guarding their interests.
Mureithi, also the chairman at Inoi Cooperative Society in Kirinyaga said farmers across the country have held meetings outlining the disadvantages of the directive calling for its withdrawal.
“ The government should withdraw the directive, or face the wrath of the farmers who earn the country billions of shillings in form of dollars,” said Mureithi.
Peter Gikonyo outlined that the coffee sector is headed to collapse should the directive be imposed on the farmers.
“To avoid such a situation, let the government withdraw the circular, as it will cause chaos and confusion in the sector,” said Gikonyo.
