Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua flanked by Nyeri Women Representative Rahab Mukami, her Nyandarua Counterpart Faith Gitau, Naivasha MP Jane Kihara, Embakasi North MP James Gakuya and Meru Nominated MP Halima Mucheke/Courtesy
NAIROBI, Kenya, January 17 – A section of Mount Kenya Region MPs have said they will continue pushing government officials to implement President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive to fix farmers problems in the region.
While addressing a press conference in Parliament on Friday, the leaders led by Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua said they welcome the directive, but they want it implemented soon.
“The president gave a time frame of six months. What we are saying is that we have seen the president give directives like the one he gave in June in Narok for clearing pending bills and until now it has not been implemented,” Rigathi said.
“We are now on the lookout to ensure that Munya and his team fulfil what the head of state directed, and we will not relent because they were given a job and they have to so it.”
The leaders said the economy of the regions was fast collapsing and lauded the president for the bold action he took to revive farmers hopes in the area.
“We have been saying address the issues of coffee, tea and all the problems affecting our farmers. It was a good directive and we welcome it. Our concerns are not political positions but economic empowerment of our people. We want money in the pockets of our people,” Rigathi added.
Rigathi was accompanied by Nyeri Women Representative Rahab Mukami, her Nyandarua Counterpart Faith Gitau, Naivasha MP Jane Kihara, Embakasi North MP James Gakuya and Meru Nominated MP Halima Mucheke.
On Tuesday, President Kenyatta ordered the release of Sh375 million to buy rice from Kano and Mwea for distribution to disciplined forces and boarding schools.
He further directed the Competition Authority of Kenya and the National Treasury to take decisive action to stop illegal activities in the agriculture sector adding that revised regulations to be gazetted in two weeks.
The head of State further said that farmers, especially in the tea and coffee sub-sectors, have been experiencing poor returns brought about by corrupt leaders who manipulate the industry for their own selfish gains.
“The key concerns are low prices for tea, delayed payments and low initial payments by KTDA. It is clear that the governance of KTDA will require to be restructured if our farmers get more revenue to their tea sales,” said Kenyatta.
