Kirinyaga coffee farmers oppose CS Oparanya's directive to pay them on M-Pesa

Coffee farmers from Kirinyaga County have opposed a directive by the Ministry of Cooperatives to directly pay them through individual settlement accounts, bypassing respective cooperative societies.

According to the directive, farmers are to get their payments through the Direct Settlement System (DSS) without their money going through their cooperative societies.

Coffee farmers accuse Cooperative Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya of trying to impose new laws without clear public participation to give farmers a chance to share their views.

They say the circular issued by Oparanya is punitive and retrogressive and will lead to the decline of many gains achieved in the coffee sector.

Oparanya has ordered the Nairobi Coffee Exchange to commence payments to all growers using the Direct Settlement System.

"Ukiuza leo, unalipwa kesho. Hii ni njama iko mahali inataka kutufilisisha. So tumesema enough is enough, ajilete asitumane," said farmer Kinyua Kamau.

The farmers, led by Inoi Cooperative Society Chairman Felix Muriithi, say the new directive will lead to the collapse of cooperatives and will also be difficult to implement.

He says paying farmers will present a challenge since there are two seasons — the mini crop and the main crop.

"Na sasa kama pesa itakuja na M-Pesa, tutaporomosha. So kwa sisi, vyenye tunaelewa na tuna-understand, we have working systems," Inoi said.

The farmers argue that the move will affect Kirinyaga cooperatives, which have come together to form one strong cooperative that has improved the coffee sector in the county.

"Serikali ikichukua data zetu, waanze kutuuzia kahawa — who will negotiate our dollar? Sababu hapo kwa ubadilishaji wa pesa ndiyo pesa yetu inapotea,"  Joseph Ngari added.

They want the government to consult with farmers before implementing such punitive laws, stating that many farmers have faith in the management of cooperatives and SACCOs.