Farmers want coffee union assets audited

A coffee farmer James Uwizeyimana taking care of his coffee trees. A group of coffee farmers want the government to commission an audit of assets belonging to the Kenya Planters’ Co-operative Union. PHOTO | FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary
Their demands come a few weeks after the Kenya Commercial Bank was restrained by the court from appointing new receiver managers after a dispute over land title deeds with board arose.
Current dispute arose
The union was placed under receivership in October 2009 but an out-of-court settlement was arrived at with board members late last year after which the current dispute cropped up when title deeds for assets could not be traced.



 By Nation Correspondent
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A group of coffee farmers want the government to commission an audit of assets belonging to the Kenya Planters’ Co-operative Union.

The growers, allied to 10 coffee societies have also called for elections of union officials saying they do not recognise current board members.

In a letter to the Ministry of Industrialisation, which was also copied to President Kenyatta, the farmers want the government to provide a clear direction on how the union’s properties will be managed and steer a new strategic direction for the firm.

“There is need for the ministry to order grassroots elections nationwide to allow the societies to elect delegates who will in turn elect their directors. The board currently in office was hand-picked and has no mandate to handle KPCU business or make decisions on its properties,” the letter seen by the Nation reads.

Their demands come a few weeks after the Kenya Commercial Bank was restrained by the court from appointing new receiver managers after a dispute over land title deeds with board arose.
Current dispute arose

The union was placed under receivership in October 2009 but an out-of-court settlement was arrived at with board members late last year after which the current dispute cropped up when title deeds for assets could not be traced.

Board chairman, Mr William Gatei, said the union was facing difficulties adding that some leaders who lost in elections that were held in July had written the letter to the ministry.

“Some of those who lost in elections are crawling back after we have worked hard to have the union removed from receivership. Elections were held in July and there were no disputes filed with the ministry or the courts. This is not the time to introduce wrangles when we are dealing with matters that will eventually return the union into operation. The farmers are going to judge us after our term,” he said when contacted on the latest event.