On March 14, 2020, the New Kenya Planters Co-operative Union (KPCU) chairman Henry Kinyua addressed concerns from independent coffee millers, assuring them that the union would not run them out of business.
Speaking at the Lower Eastern Coffee Milling plant (LECOM) in Machakos town, Kinyua emphasized that the main purpose of establishing the new body was to assist in the revival of the coffee industry and to positively impact the coffee value chain for the benefit of farmers.
"Farmers through their respective co-operative societies will remain independent as before with the freedom of trading according to their choices, however, spare a window for supporting the new union which was formed for their own good," said Mr Kinyua.
The chairman also highlighted the importance of the Cherry Advance Revolving Fund, which the government had initially allocated Sh3 billion to boost small-scale farmers. He stated that final touches were underway to commence the disbursement of the money to the beneficiaries.
Patrick Katingima, the host of the meeting and chairman of the Machakos Co-operative Union, welcomed the government's move to assist coffee farmers and affirmed their support of the new KPCU.
