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Githunguri Member of Parliament, Gathoni Wamuchomba, has once again reaffirmed her commitment to safeguarding the welfare of coffee farmers, calling out what she describes as an attempt to undermine the sector through questionable fund reallocations.
In a recent statement, Wamuchomba raised the alarm over the proposed reallocation of KSh 1.5 billion from the Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund by the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMSE. According to Wamuchomba, the funds, which are meant to provide seasonal loans to coffee farmers, were to be diverted to what she described as “suspicious and non-existent” SACCOs and women’s groups outside the coffee sector.
Wamuchomba emphasized that such a move is not only unconstitutional but also a violation of the Public Finance Management (PFM) Act. “Article 223 of the Constitution, together with section 43 of the Public Finance Management Act 2012 and Regulation 40 of the PFM Regulations 2015, clearly stipulates that only the accounting officer of the Kenya Planters’ Co-operative Union (KPCU) has the authority to reallocate funds within his budget lines, and even then, only up to a limit of 10%,” she said.
The MP further highlighted that conditional and ring-fenced funds, such as those in the Cherry Fund, cannot legally be reallocated for political reasons. She called the move an “abuse of office” and accused those involved of trying to frustrate the ongoing coffee sector reforms.
In a direct address to Dr. Chris Kiptoo, the PS of the Treasury, and Patrick Kilemi, the PS of Cooperatives, Wamuchomba demanded answers on the whereabouts of the KSh 2 billion allocated for the Cherry Fund in the 2023 financial budget. She claimed that out of the KSh 2 billion, only KSh 600 million has been released, and questioned the status of the remaining KSh 1.4 billion.
“This is playing political hide and seek at the expense of naïve coffee farmers,” Wamuchomba stated, adding that coffee sector oversight is part of her mandate, and she will not relent in holding those responsible to account. “You can’t stop the birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them from nesting over your head,” she said, alluding to her ongoing fight to protect the rights and interests of coffee farmers.
The Githunguri MP called for transparency and accountability from the Treasury and the Ministry of Cooperatives, vowing to continue her oversight role and ensure that coffee farmers receive the support they deserve.
Wamuchomba’s firm stance underscores her dedication to revitalizing the coffee sector, which has long been a key pillar of Kenya’s economy. She urged all stakeholders to remain vigilant as the fight for coffee sector reforms continues.
Her final words were clear: “Tupatane Mbunge Tuesday” — signaling that the conversation will carry on as she continues to seek justice for coffee farmers.
