The prolonged leadership disputes that had paralyzed Muiru Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative Society in Tharaka Nithi county have finally been settled after the coffee farmers, through their interim committee agreed unanimously to conduct fresh elections.
In a meeting between the County Government of Tharaka Nithi and leaders of the society presided over by Governor Muthomi Njuki in his satellite office at Chuka on Thursday 15 February 2024, a decisive solution was reached, to conduct society elections on 1 March, 2024.
“I believe Muiru Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative will get back their glory. We now have a consensus on how we will revive the society to return to its status of being a giant producer of quality coffee”, he said.
1450 registered members of the society will vote for 3 committee members and 1 supervisory member at factory level, then proceed to the society headquarters at Kambandi to elect a society supervisory representative and one committee general.
The two factories that make up the society are Nthima and Irigu coffee factories.
Persons willing to be elected into office are required to be of 18 years and above, be a registered member of the society, be able to read and write and should not be an employee of the society, and are required to submit their interests for elections before the 22nd of February, 2024, to the society, an exercise which will be conducted by the County Attorney in collaboration with the Ward Administrator as part of the election supervisory committee.
A directive by Governor Muthomi Njuki will see the Department of Public Administration, Intergovernmental Coordination and Devolution Affairs conduct the elections and give manpower on election day, with the Governor assuring members of the society a smooth electoral process.
The Governor cautioned candidates from malicious voter influence, directing the closure of all bars within the society on election day until the voting exercise is complete. He announced stringent measure to persons found disrupting the elections.
