Agriculture CS Hon Peter Munya on Wednesday held sensitization meetings at Mitheru and Chiakariga in Tharaka Nithi County, on National Coffee farm Inputs Stimulus Subsidy Program and Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund.
The Cherry Revolving Fund created by President Uhuru Kenyatta under the administration of the New KPCU Ltd with an allocation of KShs2.70 billion has so far benefited 15,703 farmers across 16 counties, with a total of KShs 177,836,478 already disbursed.
According to Munya, only 14 farmers have benefited from the program in Tharaka Nithi County, thus the need for such sensitization meetings in the county.
Under the National Coffee Farm Inputs Stimulus Subsidy Program, 80,087 farmers from 18 counties have so far been registered, with 59,000 farmers already benefiting at a cost of KShs 450 million from the KShs 1 billion subsidy.
5,753 farmers in Tharaka Nithi County have registered for the program, with 1,049 already having the funds disbursed to them successfully.
Coffee Societies
Addressing challenges experienced by Coffee Societies in the county at Mitheru, CS Munya blamed low Coffee prices and delayed subsidies and renumerations to rogue officials, saying the County Government was in charge of Society Officials and called for a change in leadership.
Munya insisted that the only solution to the Coffee Society was to replace incompetent officials and cartels laundering money from the society. He further gave directives to newly appointed County Commissioner Norbert Komora to oversee elections in all societies within 3 weeks.
Lack of NCPB Offices and Ruto Politics
After claims by residents during the Mitheru meeting that the county lacked a functional National Cereals & Produce Board (NCPB) office, CS Munya hit out at DP Ruto for traversing the county in a quest to be elected as President yet he was once Minister for Agriculture and never ensured a functional NCPB office in the county.
“I was appointed to the ministry recently. There are those who were there before me. Even Ruto was once Minister for Agriculture and he never ensured a functional NCPB Office in the county yet he is selling his agenda to you to become the next president” – CS Peter Munya
A furious Munya even reacted to heckles by a member of the public to have him seize from talking about the Deputy President, saying he had every right to speak about Ruto and that he would not be intimidated and threatened in his own meeting.
Munya went on to link the DP with graft cases, saying his lieutenants conspired in misuse of public resources through fraudulent tenders.
Running Mate Choice
Lands CAS Mburi Muiru, EALA MP Mpuru Aburi and Senatorial aspirant Paul Mugambi took to the podium to drum up support for CS Munya, saying he was best suited to deputize Raila Odinga in the next government.
“My prayers are with you to become the next DP under Azimio and since you are young, you are destined to be President in the future” – CAS Mburi Muiru
“CS Munya has changed and transformed the agriculture sector since his appointment. You have our support to deputize Raila in the Azimio La Umoja coalition” – EALA MP Mpuru Aburi
“We have the numbers. As Mt Kenya East, we have been for long used as a stepping stone in the elections. We are fully behind CS Munya” – Paul Mugambi, Jubilee Senatorial Aspirant.
Azimio Politics
CS Munya called on resident to support the Azimio la Umoja coalition, saying they had the numbers to form government.
He added that President Uhuru was working to complete projects and criticized those accusing the president of unfinished projects saying they were the ones responsible due to fraudulent tenders awarded by them under their respective offices.
“You cant change if those in power failed to deliver and are still an option” – CS Munya
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