The New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU) has come out guns blazing to deny claims that it stole coffee from a factory in South Imenti constituency, Meru County.
The New KPCU Chairman Daniel Chemno said the allegations are baseless and unfounded and only meant to tarnish their name.
He instead advised coffee factories and warehouses to ensure their premises are manned by armed police officers in order to prevent theft.
Coffee worth about Sh3 million was stolen from Kaguru factory last week.
Speaking at the New KPCU Meru depot during an inspection tour of the facility, Chemno said the theft allegations are inspired by business rivalry.
He called on police officers to immediately investigate the theft and nab the culprits while at the same time wondering why the factory stored such a large consignment for a long time without any police protection.
“We completely disassociate ourselves from allegations associating coffee theft in a factory society in Meru to New KPCU. The allegations are baseless and only meant to tarnish our name because many farmers have wholeheartedly accepted to sell their coffee to us.
Let the security agencies investigate the theft and arrest the culprits. We wonder why the factory stored such a large consignment for a long time without police protection,” said the Chairman.
He gave the officials who are spreading the rumours an ultimatum to retract the statement and apologize through the same channels failure to which they shall take legal action against them.
The Chairman said they will not allow actions or words that do not auger well with the company to be spread against them for selfish gains.
He said the best option is to always have armed security agencies manning warehouses and coffee factories that store coffee to prevent theft.
“Before bringing your coffee to us, seek armed police escort. In case you lose it on transit, it’s the duty of officials to explain the disappearance to farmers without playing blame game.”
“It’s the duty of the officials to safeguard the coffee on behalf of the farmers. That is why I advise them to always ensure they seek armed police protection when they are storing coffee in their premises,” said Chemno.
He appealed to farmers to take their coffee to New KPCU since they are the most transparent and charge the lowest fees for milling services.
He said once they mill the coffee, they don’t charge any storage fees thus making it cost effective.
Chemno said the company has the capacity to mill the entire coffee produced in the country but urged millers to give farmers a free hand in choosing where to take their coffee.
He urged farmers to increase production since prices are on the increase track and will benefit farmers greatly.
New KPCU Managing Director Tim Mirugi said the coffee reforms are bearing fruits owing to improved production and prices.
“There is a remarkable upwards trajectory in milling meaning the production has gone up. The prices are also getting better meaning the coffee reforms are bearing fruits positively. Farmers are being provided with subsidised farm inputs in a bid to lower the cost of production and increase profits,” said Mirugi.
