Coffee farmers from Kisii Conuty now have all the reasons to smile after Coffee Board of Management announced on Tuesday that they will receive their December 2014 and January 2015 dues.
Speaking at the Coffee Board of Kenya Headquarters Kisii town branch, the branch manager Robert Kariuki said all logistics had been put in place to ensure that all famers are sorted out before Monday next week.
He said that the delay was as a result of delay from their potential clients outside the country, whom according to him, responded last week after months of waiting.
“By February 9 this month, we will ensure that every farmer has received his or her dues. The delay was explainable since our customers from abroad had delayed our payments but we are happy they responded last week,” said Kariuki, the branch manager adding that there was also delay in exporting their products at the airport, but the problem was solved after the government moved in with speed to solve the impasse.
He apologised to the farmers for the delay and promised of improved mechanisms to ensure the menace does to recur.
“We are very sorry for the delay. Please do not get irritated since we have now put mechanisms to ensure the predicament never repeat itself,” said Kariuki.
The move received applause from farmers who said they had not lost hope in their organisation and promised to continue co-operating.
“We are very happy that this comes at a critical time when we are in dire need of school fees for our children. We will continue co-operating with the board,” said Kelvin Ogeto, a veteran coffee farmer.