Big win for farmers as Uhuru orders KPCU, KFA revamping

Lewis Njoka @Lewis Njoka

Farmers will soon start enjoying better returns for their produce following a directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta to  restructure Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU) and Kenya Farmers Association (KFA). 

President Uhuru directed Trade Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya to commence  the process of re-organising the two farmer-oriented organisations that are undergoing ownership wrangles.

“I have directed Munya that starting this Monday (today), he should begin the process to reorganise and restructure KPCU and KFA, like we did with KCC, and revert their ownership to farmers so that they may recoup their money,” the President said during Ushirika Day celebrations on Saturday. 

In its heyday, KPCU used to assist coffee farmers achieve good returns by marketing and exporting their beans, promote adherence to quality standards, educating them on coffee production and storage, and providing value addition services such as polishing and grading. 

KFA, on the other hand, used to help farmers earn better income by supplying them with affordable farm inputs and  assisting them market their  produce. 

Currently, the two organisation are shells of their former selves, a situation that has seen farmer earnings dwindle resulting in an almost total collapse of the coffee and other crops that depended on these organisations for support.

Over the last decade, KPCU has faced numerous challenges including lawsuits over terminal dues, mismanagement, political interference, and being placed under receivership for failure to service a Sh644 million debt owed to Kenya Commercial Bank. The receivership was lifted in 2014. 

Kenya Farmers Association has fared no better either. After its formation in 1923, the association performed well up to 1984 when the government started meddling in its affairs and wound it up.

KFA assets were taken over by Kenya Grain Growers Co-operative Union (KGGCU) which operated until 1996, then renamed KFA. In 2015, the association’s Nakuru headquarters was lined up for sale over a Sh90 million debt owed to Barclays bank. 

Owners farmer

Co-operative Alliance of Kenya (CAK) Chairman Japheth Magomere had requested President Uhuru to  repossess the two organisations and revert their ownership to their original owners, farmers. 

Magomere described the President’s directive as great news saying reverting the ownership of KPCU to farmers would restore their faith in the cash crop and increase production. 

His views were echoed by CAK Chief Executive Officer Daniel Marube, who said: “Once KPCU ownership is reverted to farmers, they will be able to share the profits it makes, and get returns for their investment. They will be able to add value to their coffee and command the international coffee market.” 

Earlier  in  the day, President Uhuru had inaugurated the refurbished and upgraded New KCC Dandora Factory, a plant that will process 160,000 litres of milk a day and employ 600 people.  

Uhuru said the government had begun by upgrading the New KCC Eldoret Factory followed by the Sotik plant and recently, the Dandora plant.  

He announced that the government would revive the Nyahururu and Kiganjo KCC milk facilities.