Kangundo MP Fabian Muli has called for an audit of all coffee cooperative societies in his constituency.
Muli said he will write to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture for the government to conduct an official audit of all coffee cooperative societies in Kangundo Sub County in a bid of ensuring transparency and accountability.
He said farmers from various societies planting coffee as cash crop in the region had severally marched to his office decrying poor management of the cooperative committees.
Muli addressed the members of Kilalani Coffee Farmers Cooperative Society at Kilalani in Kangundo on Friday.
He said the members were complaining of miscommunication and mismanagement of the society's resources.
“ Farmers from Kangundo have been depending on coffee farming as source of their livelihoods for ages, it is sad that cooperative societies are exploiting them to the extent that they cannot find value for their produce," Muli said.
Muli said cartels in coffee cooperative societies committees had made farmers from Kangundo uproot the crop.
He said coffee can improve the locals' livelihoods if farmers get value for their produce.
The over 2,000 farmers accused the committees of turning deaf ears to their grievances and using police officers tointimidate them whenever they raise their concerns about the society.
“Sometimes we are paid Sh35 per kg for our coffee and at times Sh60, we wonder why the price varies. Furthermore, we are never paid our dues unless we raise our voices," said Nicholas Muiya, a coffee farmer.
Muia said the leadership of the society had been using delaying tactics to procrastinate challenges faced by the members.
They threatened to sell their coffee to brokers if the societies continue to exploit them .
The farmers were barred from accessing the cooperative's premises.
The officials hired goons who denied the members access forcing them to hold their meeting outside, the gates were locked under guard.
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