- The society has been rocked by scandals since 2017 when it started deducting five per cent of farmers' proceeds as contribution for Kangunu sacco.
- But the farmers have insisted they did not approve the formation of the sacco.
Image: Alice Waithera
Coffee farmers from Kangunu Coffee Co-operative Society in Mathioya, Murang'a county on Wednesday protested against poor management.
The society has been rocked by scandals since 2017 when it started deducting five per cent of farmers' proceeds as contribution for Kangunu sacco.
But the farmers have insisted they did not approve the formation of the sacco. They also say they have not given the sacco’s leadership the authority to deduct money from their payments.
In 2022, some 26 members were expelled from the co-operative society. This was after questioning the management on why the deductions were not receipted.
They had also questioned the society’s decision to acquire expensive loans from millers instead of getting funds from local saccos that are significantly cheaper.
This resulted in some members hawking their coffee to the neighbouring societies in Kiru and Gitugi areas. The move spelled doom to the once vibrant society that led in coffee payments years ago.
Further, some of the farmers who who were perceived as leading in raising concerns were were expelled.
Attempts by local co-operative officers to resolve the issues facing the society were unsuccessful as they were met with hostility and even locked out of its offices.
Mary Njeri, a farmer, said she is deducted thousands of shillings for the sacco every time she receives her payment.
“This year, they have deducted Sh8,000 from my proceeds. Why do I have to keep contributing to a sacco that I have no idea what it is for?" she asked.
She said they want the entire management out so that fresh elections can be held.
Njeri said the management has allowed some non-farmers to become shareholders in the society, and that they collude with them to deny farmers the chance to give their input.
“This has been going on for about five years now. Farmers are called for meetings but not allowed to air their views. Those who attempt to speak out are intimidated. Decisions are seconded by people imposed by the management,” she said.
Rebecca Wambui said majority of the society’s members are elderly and that the society takes advantage of their advanced age to impose rules against them.
Wambui said while they were protesting yesterday, the society’s managers hired goods who were armed with sticks to chase them away.
“They use our money to hire youths just so we don’t meet and speak out against them. We want them out,” she said.
John Chege said they have been feeling helpless due to the government’s inability to intervene and help them.
Chege was expelled from the society in 2022 for leading farmers in demanding for meetings.
The meetings were aimed at holding the society’s managers accountable and pushing for the elimination of dictatorial rules, he said.
“This society has lost millions in loans taken from millers that the management cannot explain,” he said.
The society has been avoiding inspection of its books, he added.
Chege said in 2022, managers locked co-operative officers out of their offices to stop them from inspecting books of accounts.
The farmer said he received an expulsion letter indicating he had become a burden to the co-operative.
The letter also claimed he caused the co-operative to incur losses by pushing for general meetings while knowing the laid down procedures used to lodge complaints.
The society in 2021 paid Sh106 per kilogramme of coffee sold, the best price recorded in the county at the time, and was one of the best run.
The society’s chairperson Geoffrey Macharia dismissed farmers’ claims saying only a few critics have been misinforming them.
He said farmers approved the deduction of five per cent of their earnings to support activities such as buying inputs and foodstuffs.
Macharia said disgruntled members can sue the society.
Last week, President William Ruto instructed coffee co-operative societies to stop procuring expensive loans and instead seek funds from the Coffee Cherry Fund that charges a three per cent interest.
Ruto said as his administration makes plans to waive debts accrued by coffee farmers, coffee co-operative managers will not be allowed to continue taking high interest loans.
The loans he said, leave farmers struggling to repay and eat into their earnings.