Farmers block selling of their coffee to millers

Farmers allied to Kangiri Farmers’ Cooperative Society in Murang’a County have resisted the sale of coffee citing poor management of the society.
More than 505 bags of coffee from three factories allied to the society are rotting in stores after farmers blocked the transportation of coffee beans to millers.
Coffee worth millions of shillings is rotting in stores of Kangurumai, Kanguya and New Irati factories which are part of Kangiri Society after farmers resisted selling other produce.
The farmers have dug trenches along roads barring lorries from accessing the factories to transport coffee to the millers.
The farmers’ protest was prompted by the management committee of the society to declare a meeting farmers intended to hold on February 21 as illegal. The farmers are demanding the meeting to iron out troubles facing the society.
Communication to farmers by society secretary Ms Margaret Irungu reads in part, “The meeting set for February 21 has been called without the knowledge of society chairman by unknown people.”
One of the farmers Mr. Peter Mwangi revealed that the society’s management has continued to stop the farmers from holding any meeting to enable them take a decision on better management of their society.
“We will stop selling of our produce until our grievances are heard. We would rather suffer for a period and get a lasting solution than sell our produce while our grievances are not answered,” added Mwangi a member at New Irati.
Only two factories; Gatumbi and Kanjathi which are also affiliated to the society sold their coffee to the millers.
The farmers affiliated to the three factories said they will proceed and hold their special general meeting on the material day.
In a rejoinder, County Director of Cooperatives Ms Josephine Mwangi dismissed claims of favouring the society’s management committee.
She noted that the society was among the best in the county but fearing its performance is likely to be affected by continued leadership wrangles.
Speaking in her office, Mwangi said a section of members have been opposed to leadership of the society, leading to unending wrangles.
By Bernard Munyao