Cooperatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development Cabinet Secretary (CS) Wycliffe Oparanya has disbanded the management of Barichu Farmers’ Cooperative Society Limited in Mathira Constituency, Nyeri County.

During a tour to the society at Karatina on Monday where he held a meeting with thousands of farmers, Mr Oparanya ordered the management to vacate office immediately and pave the way for fresh elections.

The CS also directed the Commissioner for Cooperatives David Obonyo to institute an inquiry into mismanagement of the society.

The directive came after farmers lamented that the leadership of the society had been embezzling their money.

“Our President is committed to ensuring that farmers get value for their produce. Therefore, I direct the board of this society to step aside immediately,” Mr Oparanya said.

“I entered this office barely three weeks ago, but I have realised that many coffee cooperative societies in the country are rotting. Money belonging to farmers has been embezzled and we will not allow that to continue happening,” he added.

He appointed Nyeri County director for Cooperatives Peter Theuri to oversee operations of the cooperative society pending the elections that will be held during the society’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on September 18, 2024.

“We want all persons who have embezzled money belonging to farmers to be arrested and prosecuted accordingly. We are directing the DCI and EACC to step in and investigate the mismanagement of this cooperative society and charge those found to have misused farmers’ resources,” Mr Oparanya said.

“In fact, I have directed the Commissioner for Cooperatives to probe all the coffee societies in Nyeri county and ensure that money belonging to farmers is safe,” he added.

The CS further announced that the government, through the New Kenya Planters Co-operative Union (New KPCU), will pay Sh63 million debt owed to members of the cooperative society.

“The President has tasked me to direct the New KPCU to avail Sh63 million owed to farmers affiliated to this society and pay them immediately. He has also authorized that the money be paid directly to the farmers. The money will be paid before you hold the forthcoming AGM,” Mr Oparanya told the farmers.

Leaders present during the meeting were MPs Eric Wamumbi (Mathira), Maina Mathenge (Nyeri Town), and Senator Wahome Wamatinga.

Mathira Constituency is the backyard of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who has been spearheading reforms in the coffee, tea, and dairy agricultural sub-sectors.