This archive report was first published on 14 October 2019.
On October 14, 2019, Kiambu County Deputy Governor James Nyoro announced that the county government had initiated talks with the national government to waive Sh400 million in debts owed by local coffee societies.
The move aims to alleviate the burden on coffee farmers, who Nyoro said were hindered by the debt from developing their coffee farming businesses.
According to Nyoro, the talks, if successful, would benefit 23 coffee societies, with the once-giant Komothai Coffee Cooperative Society leading the pack with a debt of Sh160 million.
Nyoro wondered why similar debt cancellations had not been done in Kiambu, citing several other areas where such debt had been waived.
“We have initiated talks with the Government so that we can see what can be done, including writing off the debts. We have to remove, shelf or reschedule the debt so that the farmers can stand to benefit. With the debt the farmers cannot get good returns,” Nyoro said.
He added that the county was seeking to revive its coffee factories, which were in deplorable condition, and find new markets for coffee outside the traditional ones.
Furthermore, Nyoro suggested that local coffee farmers should take advance payment for their parchment after the Government set up a Sh3 billion cherry advance revolving fund.
