Coffee farmers feeding the Kimabole coffee factory demonstrated citing delayed payment and urged the government to intervene to help them get paid.
Speaking to www.westfm.co.ke outside the coffee industry, the infuriated farmers claimed that they have never been paid since last year and demanded the immediate resignation of the committee of the industry alleging that the committee misuses farmer’s money.
“We don’t have trust in this committee and we want them out of this industry, how can they tell us that the industry does not have money?” Stephen Wandabwa, one of the farmers said.
“They are telling us that they will sell bamboo and coffee trees before we are paid and yet we brought our coffee. Where did the money that was received from the sold coffee go?” He added.
Shadrack, another farmer who claimed was the pioneer of the society said the chairman of the society was using the farmers money doing his own business and therefore demanded that the chairman should resign.
They accused the chairman of the industry for not involving them in several plans of the industry something that has led to reduced coffee in the industry.
“There are meetings that go on in this industry and the chairman does not involve us, he sidelines us yet we are also stakeholders. In fact this has led to reduced produce of coffee,” stated one of the farmers.
“The chairman lies to us that he will cut coffee trees next year, when we go in his office he keeps promising us things that he will never fulfill. What we want is our money nothing more!” Colleta Makokha asserted.
They said that they entirely depend on coffee and are finding it difficult to cope with life since they have not been paid.
The farmers lamented that they are unable to raise school fees for their children and thus want the government to come in and help solve the issue.
The demonstration brought business to a standstill as farmers closed the main entrance and claimed not to move out of the place until their grievances are heard and solved.