Bungoma farmers want coffee sector reforms fast-tracked

Coffee farmers from the Kaptama, Chepyuk, and Elgon regions in Bungoma County have decried what they term widespread exploitation in the sector.

In a recent meeting held at AIC Kapsokwony Church, the farmers called for urgent intervention from relevant stakeholders to revive the sector.

They accused coffee cooperatives and companies of consistently underpaying them, blatantly disregarding government-set prices. “We are tired of being cheated. We toil day and night, but we have nothing to show for it. The whole system is working against us,” the farmers lamented.

The farmers also claimed they are being pushed into poverty by a system they said was rigged against them.

They, at the same time, accused some cooperatives of colluding with brokers to deny them their hard-earned sweat.

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Bungoma Senator David Wakoli condemned reports of corruption, saying they are undermining the sector.

Mr Wakoli, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, promised action to address the farmers’ grievances.

“The exploitation of our hard-working farmers is unacceptable. We will not allow criminals to continue stealing from the very people who keep our economy running,” he said. Mr Wakoli said the Senate Committee would tour Bungoma next month for a fact-finding mission. He also highlighted the significance of the pending Coffee Bill, which is currently before the Senate. 

The proposed legislation aims to overhaul the coffee industry, establish transparency, and ensure farmers receive fair compensation. “This Bill is a vital tool for reforming the sector. It will help us build a fair, sustainable future for coffee farmers in Bungoma and beyond,” he said.

Farmers said reforms in the sector are long overdue. As part of government-led efforts to revive the sector, former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2019 announced the establishment of a Sh3 billion Cherry Advance Revolving Fund.  The Kenya Kwanza Government boosted the fund with Sh4 billion more in December 2023 to accelerate the recovery of the sector.

Close to half a million small-scale farmers had borrowed Sh6.7 billion from the Fund as of December last year, with seven counties in the Mount Kenya region enjoying 59.7 per cent, a new report reveals.

The fund administered by New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (New KPCU) benefited 497,221 farmers, a trend the organisation’s top management attributed to low interest rates and improved governance disbursement systems.