Farmers who benefited from a donation of coffee seedlings by the National Government, distributed in April by the Principal Secretary for Agriculture, Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh, are now expressing deep frustration over what they describe as poor-quality planting materials.
Several recipients across Kipkelion East in Kericho County say the grafted seedlings, which were meant to boost coffee production and uplift livelihoods, appear unhealthy, stunted, and in some cases, already dying.
They are questioning the quality control measures used before the seedlings were handed out in a highly publicized event attended by several national and county leaders including Bomet Woman Representative Linet Toto.
Photos shared with this publication show visibly wilting plants, with farmers claiming the stock may not have been properly grafted or stored.
Farmers are calling on the Ministry of Agriculture and Kericho County Government to launch an immediate investigation and provide replacements to those who received the defective seedlings.
They argue that without swift intervention, the losses could discourage further participation in government-backed agricultural programs.
Many now say they feel misled and are demanding accountability from both the national and county agriculture offices.
“Hi Nyakundi. Please look into this. We’re some of the farmers from Kipkelion East who received the coffee seedlings that were donated by the government in April. The seedlings were distributed during that big event attended by the Agriculture PS Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh. As you can see most of the seedlings we got are either dying or completely stunted. Some look like they were not even properly grafted. We spent money preparing our land and had high hopes. Please help us raise this issue. We need the Ministry and County Government to come and inspect what they gave us and replace the bad seedlings. We’re suffering silently yet they went on celebrating like they had helped us. Let them come back and see the reality on the ground.”
