Tea, Coffee Farmers Find Reprieve as Senate Committee visit Kimilili

Isabella Maua

Farmers from Bungoma County growing tea and coffee have on Sunday had a lengthy discussion with the Senate Standing Committee at Kimilili on matters related to diversifying the cash crops sector.

Speaking during the Public Participation forum, farmers decried inadequate factories within their vicinities as well as existence of cartels and brokers.

“We direly need tea and coffee factories in Kaberua, this committee should treat this affirmatively or else these crops will all be slashed off since some of us have already cut down some plantation,” lamented one of the Mt.Elgon farmers.

Poor road infrastructure has also been a great hindrance to farmers in transporting their produce to factories and they urged the leadership to urgently act upon this matter.

Small scale farmer intimidation was vehemently discouraged and the committee challenged to include local farmers in decision making since they’re the ones feeling the pinch.

“Directors should be appointed from within us so that they can effectively and efficiently serve us at that capacity,” said Simotwo a coffee farmer.

Bungoma Senator David Wakoli assured farmers of full corporation and empowerment by the Kenya Kwanza government; promising that their grievances have been decoded and will be acted upon accordingly.

“ We shall work collaboratively with other leaders to ensure elimination of cartels and brokers in this sector so that farmers get what is rightfully theirs,” vowed Wakoli.

Kimilili MNA Didimus Baraza thanked the farmers for heeding to the call to attend the session and emphasized that for a bill to be effective to the mwananchi it has to be highly participatory at the grassroots.

The committee was led by Chairperson Senator Murango James and attended by among others, Senator Alexander Mundigi (Embu), Beth Kalunda (Nominated), Bungoma CECM Agriculture Monica Fedha, Bungoma Deputy Governor and Senior County Officials with 15 MCAs from within.