Coffee farmers across Kenya might finally get justice as the government threatens to seize corrupt managers' assets. CS Wycliffe Oparanya revealed that cooperative societies have racked up a massive Sh6 billion debt mountain. The Agriculture chief warned that officials who pocket farmers' money will face property auctions. Government officials refuse to keep bailing out these societies while managers enrich themselves at peasant farmers' expense. The latest crackdown comes after years of farmers getting shortchanged by greedy middlemen.
Oparanya reminded everyone that the state already pumped Sh1 billion into debt relief back in 2011. The cooperative societies continue bleeding money while their bosses live lavishly from stolen proceeds. Parliament will soon debate the Co-operatives Bill that introduces term limits for elected leaders. These reforms aim to stop the same corrupt faces from recycling through leadership positions. President William Ruto's administration promises sweeping changes to protect vulnerable coffee growers.
The government allocated Sh500 million for purchasing 5 million coffee seedlings to revive the struggling sector. Kenya currently produces only 3 million seedlings annually, forcing expensive imports from neighboring countries. Coffee production has crashed from 200,000 tonnes during the 1980s to just 50,000 tonnes today. Tigania West MP John Mutunga demanded guaranteed minimum returns and subsidized fertilizer for factories. The new seedlings will be distributed through cooperative societies to boost both quality and quantity.
Oparanya reminded everyone that the state already pumped Sh1 billion into debt relief back in 2011. The cooperative societies continue bleeding money while their bosses live lavishly from stolen proceeds. Parliament will soon debate the Co-operatives Bill that introduces term limits for elected leaders. These reforms aim to stop the same corrupt faces from recycling through leadership positions. President William Ruto's administration promises sweeping changes to protect vulnerable coffee growers.
The government allocated Sh500 million for purchasing 5 million coffee seedlings to revive the struggling sector. Kenya currently produces only 3 million seedlings annually, forcing expensive imports from neighboring countries. Coffee production has crashed from 200,000 tonnes during the 1980s to just 50,000 tonnes today. Tigania West MP John Mutunga demanded guaranteed minimum returns and subsidized fertilizer for factories. The new seedlings will be distributed through cooperative societies to boost both quality and quantity.
