In a landmark meeting between the County Government of Tharaka Nithi and Members of Muiru Coffee Farmers’ Cooperative Society, a decisive solution was reached to put an end to the prolonged leadership disputes that had paralyzed the society, creating a leadership vacuum.
Governor Muthomi Njuki, presiding over the proceedings at his satellite office in Chuka on Friday, December 1, 2023, announced a breakthrough agreement, where the members collectively decided to establish an interim committee to oversee the society’s affairs until elections are held at the end of February next year.
The deadline for constituting this interim committee is set for January 13, 2024, with an Annual General Meeting scheduled to address society issues. During this time, members will also undertake a thorough verification of their memberships and a comprehensive review of their by-laws, crucial elements in the upcoming elections in February.
Governor Njuki seized the opportunity to highlight the global demand for coffee, emphasizing Kenya’s significant contribution to the industry. He announced that the Kenya Kwanza government had successfully dismantled coffee cartels that previously exploited farmers, noting that Cooperative Societies were now licensed to independently sell and market their products both domestically and internationally.
Governor Njuki disclosed that Tharaka Nithi, as part of the government’s strategy, has secured outsourcing contracts for foreign markets, slated to commence operations from April to August 2024.
He expressed the government’s commitment to ensuring better prices for the upcoming coffee harvest and urged farmers to enhance production, improve quality, and revitalize the profitability of coffee farming.
Highlighting his recent diplomatic efforts, Governor Njuki shared his successful engagement with American coffee importers during his foreign trip to the USA. These importers have expressed a keen interest in purchasing coffee directly from Tharaka Nithi, signaling a promising avenue for increased market access and economic growth for the region’s coffee farmers.
