The farmers in Nyeri County are grappling with shock and anger after revelations about severe financial mismanagement and a controversial Ksh 63 million “gift” that has left the Barichu Farmers Cooperative Society in deeper financial crisis.
The cooperative, with a membership of over 7,000, now finds itself buried under a staggering Ksh 300 million debt and uncertain about its future.
Farmers were initially led to believe that the Ksh 63 million presented by President William Ruto as a debt waiver was a lifeline.
However, they later discovered that the amount was, in fact, a loan from the New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU).
This loan, extended at an interest rate of 3%, adds to the cooperative’s already dire financial situation.
Members feel betrayed, accusing government officials of misleading them about the nature of the intervention.
This move has not only failed to alleviate the cooperative’s financial woes but has also further eroded trust between the farmers and government authorities.
Many farmers are now questioning whether the intervention was a genuine effort to help or merely a political stunt.
The society’s financial troubles are compounded by widespread corruption and mismanagement within its ranks.
It was recently revealed that over Ksh 14 million was siphoned off by cooperative officials under the guise of “public relations” expenses in a single year.
This revelation has left farmers outraged, as these funds could have been directed towards alleviating the society’s debts or improving farming operations.
Farmers are demanding accountability for these misappropriated funds.
However, with the promised investigation into the cooperative’s financial irregularities stalling, many fear justice may never be served.
In September, during a special general meeting with Barichu members, Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya assured farmers that President Ruto had ordered an investigation into the society’s financial irregularities.
The probe, led by the Commissioner of Cooperatives David Obonyo, was expected to deliver a comprehensive report within two months.
More than two months later, the report remains absent, leaving farmers disillusioned and questioning the true intentions behind the government’s intervention.
Why has there been such a delay in presenting the findings? Many suspect the delay could be a deliberate attempt to shield those responsible for the financial mismanagement, further deepening distrust.
The ongoing lack of accountability has fueled frustration among members, who now feel trapped between a corrupt leadership and unfulfilled government promises.
As the debt crisis worsens, the society’s future hangs in the balance, with no clear path to recovery in sight.
Farmers who once hoped for relief and reform are left wondering if they will ever see justice.
The combination of government inaction, financial mismanagement, and mounting debts has created a grim situation that threatens the livelihoods of thousands of families who depend on Barichu Farmers Cooperative Society.
Without urgent and transparent action, the society’s collapse could have far-reaching consequences for the agricultural sector in Nyeri County and beyond.
