Farmers in protest over coffee money

By Mutinda Mwanzia

More than 2,000 farmers have protested over poor management of a giant coffee estate in Machakos District.

Waving twigs and placards, the farmers paralysed business in Tala town as they demonstrated in the streets, demanding the dissolution of the board of directors at Kyanzabe Coffee Estate.

The farmers demanded an urgent special annual general meeting to deliberate on the woes facing the estate.

They accused the directors led by their chairman, Mr Isaac Nzioka, of running down the estate and failing to pay members dividends in the last three years.

Through their spokesman Mr Jacob Mulei, the farmers told journalists on Sunday that operations at the estate have been paralysed due to alleged poor management, leading to poor returns.

Kangundo MP Mr Moffat Maitha assured the farmers that he would intervene and facilitate a meeting to enable them to air their grievances to the Government.

This article was originally posted on eastandard.net 23 October 2006 – eastandard is published from Nairobi-Kenya.