Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has explained why coffee, tea and sugarcane farmers are now earning better than they used to.
Speaking in Maua, Meru where he had accompanied President William Ruto for a development tour of the county, Kindiki said farmers in the three sectors earn better because cartels were kicked out.
He said these cartels had infiltrated the production chain and it took the intervention of President William Ruto to get rid if them.
“Coffee, tea and sugarcane farmers are earning better after a long time because cartels were kicked out of the production chain as ordered by the President,” Kindiki said.
The Deputy President said that in the same way, the Kenya Kwanza administration will get rid of Cartel in the Miraa business.
He asked President Ruto to delegate this role to him to do the job as he did in getting rid of bandits and terrorists while he served as Interior Cabinet Secretary.
“We will get rid of the cartels in the miraa sub-sector. Kindly delegate to me the role to deal with the cartels because I will not be lenient with them like we dealt with bandits and terrorists when I was Interior Cabinet Secretary,” Kindiki said.
He insisted that Ruto’s visit to Meru County was to give residents his development progress report on the commitments he made during campaigns in 2022.
He assured the residents that Ruto is on course to fulfill his promises to the people of Meru and all other parts of the country.
“The President promised modern markets for small-scale traders for them to operate in dignified and decent places. A new market is being constructed in Maua town and many more in Meru, plus 400 new markets spread across the country.
“The president is on course to fulfill the promise to ensure a decent business environment for mama mboga and small-scale traders. The President promised to sort out miraa issues and just last month, he instructed guaranteed minimum returns for miraa farmers. The government is doing everything possible to implement the President’s directive for the benefit of miraa farmers.”
His remarks came after President Ruto also put on notice cartels in the miraa sub-sector.
Ruto said that the same way he has dismantled the cartels in the coffee industry and ensured farmers now earn higher prices from the crop, he will also deal ruthlessly with those in the miraa subsector.
“We have made a declaration here in Maua. All cartels ruining the miraa business should leave this country because we want this trade to thrive like other agricultural sectors,” he said.
“Tunawaambia mambo yao ni matatu. Either wakome ama mambo ya pili tuwapeleke jela ama waende ile safari.”
