Meru governor Isaac Mutuma has said he will help to revive Meru farmers owned by Afya Millers that is struggling financially.
The mill that manufactures maize meal flour and wheat meal flour for both human and animal consumption is on its knees due to poor management and high debt owed to the government.
Mutuma said he will make an engagement with the county assembly to have budgetary support for cooperative revival initiatives.
He said he will engage members of parliament and President William Ruto to explore the possibility of debt restructuring or waiver where applicable.
The mill is a cooperative affiliate to Meru Central Dairy Union,Meru Coffee Union and Capital Sacco that all trace their roots to the historic giant Meru Central Farmers Cooperative Union following its restructuring in the year 2005.
“This shared history reminds us that our cooperatives are strongest when they stand together and weakest when they struggle alone,” Mutuma said.
He said the mill required urgent and well thought out intervention.
The county boss said he sent officials from the county through the department of Trade who assessed and recommended there is a need for restructuring of governance at Afya millers.
“We have deliberately chosen to strengthen management through experience, credibility and cooperative solidarity,” Mutuma said.
He said the Meru Coffee Union, Capital Sacco,Meru Dairy Cooperative Union officials now constitute an interim 11 member board of management that runs the mill as it seeks to stabilise and envision the millers for growth.
He said the county government is committed to revive the mill and will give it the first batch of maize that will be milled in order to jumpstart operations, restore market prices and build confidence among farmers, workers and consumers.
“This intervention will ensure the mill transitions immediately from dormancy to productivity while long term stabilisation measures take effect,” Mutuma said.
He thanked the staff for their patience and sticking with the miller despite the hard economic times.
Governor Mutuma remained optimistic that the mill will withstand the turbulent economic times and do well in the market.
“The bad times are now behind us and now Afya Millers has a promising future as a viable farmer owned agro processing enterprise,” Mutuma said.
The county boss spoke after he made a tour at the mill that remains an important asset in creating employment, enhancing food security and strengthening the local economy.
Governor Mutuma warned cartel and corrupt individuals trying to meddle with the running of the mill that they will be arrested and prosecuted.
Mutuma was accompanied by nominated MCA Mwenda Kiirinya, Nyaki West MCA Kirimi Mubichi.
Mutuma said he will continue supporting cooperatives in Meru so that they can grow to get international markets.
“We have our very own milk brand by our very own Meru dairy Union that produces Mount Kenya Milk,” Mutuma said.
He said many cooperatives in the county have closed down or are at the brink of collapse due to corruption, mismanagement and land grabbing.
Mutuma urged resident to take advantage of the lapsset corridor to market their products to other parts of the country and export to the nearby countries.
Edited by John Majau
