The Mountain
editor@themountainjournal.co.ke
Kangunu coffee society this week was ranked among the best cooperatives that achieved the highest prices at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE).
Farmers affiliated to the society celebrated the posting of the best prices announced during Tuesday’s auction.
At the auction Kangunu coffee made history after it achieved the best of Sh 67, 852 for each of the 11 grade AA bags that were offered at the market by Alliance Berries.
In the market other entities that achieved the highest price are Utooni factory affiliated to the New Mitamboni FCS in Machakos, and Regeju factory achieved the highest price of Sh69,145, and Sh 68,369 for their grade AA, brokered by New KPCU and the Alliance Berries Limited respectively.
Mathioya MP Dr Edwin Mugo Gichuki said he was proud of the performance of Kangunu farmers following a year over its revival that followed installation of the new management committee led by John Chege.
The MP recounted how the bold steps initiated by leaders triggered a rapid turnaround and within months, Kangunu emerged as one of the best-paying coffee factories in Kenya.
The MP recounts the strategies that assisted in the revival of Kangunu Coffee Society and restoration of dignity to farmers.
The MP in September last year led a team that included the Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs, Mr Wycliffe Oparanya who received a wave of distress calls from farmers.
The voices of the farmers went unheard for too long as they recounted the deep-rooted corruption, unlawful deductions from their hard-earned money, poor leadership, and intimidation by unknown individuals during cooperative meetings, said the MP.
“ They were being exploited, silenced, and stripped of their right to participate in the very society they had built. There was a mandatory 5% deduction from their payments with no transparency, cases of gross mismanagement by the committee, and even instances where farmers were expelled for daring to ask questions,” said Dr Mugo.
After the high profile meeting, the CS ordered the dissolution of the management committee, as the expelled farmers were reinstated, as the illegal deductions imposed by the former leadership were stopped with immediate effects.
Mugo says transparent leadership, open communication, and a renewed focus on quality instilled hope on the farmers, thus producing the best quality.
“ We emphasized best practices in harvesting and post-harvest handling, enabling our farmers to deliver top-grade coffee to the factory. Efficient operations and elimination of financial leakages ensured that maximum value returned to the farmer,” observed the MP.
The Society Chairman John Chege thanks the support from the farmers eying to transform the society.
“ The support from the leaders was overwhelming and we are focused on making Kangunu society a great entity, thus better returns to the farmers,” said Chege.
Moses Mwangi, a farmer, appreciates the efforts made by the MP as he worked closely with the new committee members and implemented effective measures eying to support long-term growth in coffee farming.
“ We appreciate the measures taken by the MPs Edwin Mugo and Betty Maina as Kangunu farmers were under stress. This is the first year we are in control of our coffee society,” said Mwangi.
