Coffee farmers may miss pay due to elections

Coffee farmers attend a special general meeting of Barichu Farmers Co-operative Society in Nyeri on July 22, 2014. The board of Kenya Planters’ Co-operative Union has warned that payment of coffee farmers’ arrears is in jeopardy due to uncertainty brought about by calls for elections. Photo/ JOSEPH KANYI 

In Summary

• Speaking during a media visit at Dandora plant that is under renovation, the board said they were surprised about the way the ministry was handling the matters concerning the revival of the farmers’ union.

By MWANIKI WAHOME
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The board of Kenya Planters’ Co-operative Union has warned that payment of coffee farmers’ arrears is in jeopardy due to uncertainty brought about by calls for elections by the ministry of industrialization and enterprise.

 

They have demanded the ministry officials to declare their interests over the controversial elections they have called for August 31.

Speaking during a media visit at Dandora plant that is under renovation, the board said they were surprised about the way the ministry was handling the matters concerning the revival of the farmers’ union.

“We want the Cabinet secretary, the principal secretary and the commissioner of co-operatives to declare the interests they have in the elections that they have called without informing board members,” said the managing director, Mr Joseph Kioko.

They said the elections could scuttle the plans to bring the union back into operation as the funding that resulted in lifting of receivership was tied to the stability in the board’s tenure of office that ends in 2016.