Farmers cry foul over arrest of Chinese investor

Macadamia nut farmers in Matunduri, Manyatta Constituency in Embu County on Monday (27^th February 2017) staged a demonstration over the arrest of a foreign investor who is a buyer of their product.

According to the farmers, the arrest of the Chinese Investor was instigated by cartels in Meru County who see him as a threat because he buys macadamia nuts from the farmers at a higher price.

The investor buys a kilo of the nuts at Ksh100, something that has not gone down well with the ‘cartels’ who would like to buy the product at a cheaper price for them to benefit more at the expense of farmers.

A section of politicians from the county have since supported the residents, vowing to help get the investor released and his business to continue as usual without threats.

Embu Senator and gubernatorial aspirant, Lenny Kivuti, condemned the arrest and promised farmers a better market for their products when he is elected as governor in the coming polls.

“I will make sure that the rights of farmers in the county have been improved greatly because we want everybody to be rich and not a few people,” Kivuti said.

On his part, former Manyatta lawmaker Emilio Kathuri criticized the move saying it is a plot by the rich to buy macadamia nuts at a cheaper price for poor farmers not to benefit from their products.

Manyatta seat hopeful David Mukunji promised farmers that he will ensure he tables a Bill in Parliament to improve the standards of the market for farm produce to benefit not only farmers in Meru but countrywide.

Edited by Majanga Michael