A seven-member board has been appointed to oversee operations of the New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU), prioritizing activation of the Ksh3 billion Coffee Cherry Advanced Revolving Fund to support coffee farmers nationwide.
Industry, Trade and Co-operatives Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya stated the board must complete digital financial system upgrades within two weeks to enable farmers to access the fund through an online platform. This follows Cabinet approval in 2018 to operationalize KPCU and its revolving fund, which had faced delays due to the cooperative's liquidation process.
Angela Ndambuki was named acting CEO of New-KPCU, while the board includes Simeon Thuranira, Viola Mukami, Joyce Muthoni Wangari, Sebastian Maina, Antony Nzau, Michael Mwirigi, and Josephine Kemunto. The board, chaired by Henry Kinyua, will focus on implementing the fund with new operational regulations under development.
The initiative aims to stabilize the coffee sector by providing direct financial support to farmers, addressing challenges faced by producers and importers. Previous delays linked KPCU's restructuring to the fund's activation, but the new leadership seeks to accelerate progress through digital transformation.
