Murang'a coffee farmers want co-operative closed over mismanagement

Coffee farmers have called for the closure of Kangunu Coffee Co-operative Society in Murang'a county over poor management.

The farmers who were to attend the cooperative's annual general meeting said they were shocked to find that another meeting with unknown people had already been held.

They claimed the strangers were ferried to the society's headquarters by the management.

“They were used fake farmers to pass oppressive agendas that we would have blocked as we waited outside gates of the co-ooperative,” said Edward Githuo, a farmer.

He said this has been happening in the past few years to deny farmers their rights.

“The people they brought in started throwing stones at us when we started protesting,” Githuo said.

He said for about a decade, they have been unable to hold elections as the management keeps imposing people of their choice.

Githuo said they want the society closed and a new elections date set.

“We want them all gone. The insults that we have endured and the theft of our coffee is just too much,” he said.

Joseph Munga complained over deduction of five per cent of their proceeds for the past seven years.

He said farmers did not okay the deductions, which are channeled to Kanguno sacco.

“The deductions are made are made on every amount we are paid. The management is also using security officers and a small group of farmers to intimidate us,” Munga said.

He appealed to the government through the Ministry of Co-operatives to save them from the extortion.

Lemiso Maina said it is outrageous that the deductions have not accrued any dividends for seven years.

He said about a month, the local administration promised to help solve the issues.

“But that is not what has happened. They ferried non-members to replace us. We will continue protesting until we get our rights”.

Kabochi Gichure said a stone hit him on the head as police officers dispersed the farmers.

 “I just felt a sharp pain and fell on the ground where farmers rushed in to assist me,” he said.

Co-operative’s chairperson Geoffrey Macharia refused to comment on the issue.

On Tuesday, Co-operatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffee Oparanya ordered the board and chief executive of Barichu Farmers’ Co-operative Society in Nyeri county to step aside over mismanagement of members’ funds.

Oparanya also instructed the county director of co-operatives to be the caretaker of the society pending a special annual general meeting on September 18.

He vowed to clean up the sector that he said has been grappling with mismanagement, leading to loss of money.