Eastern

By Kamundia Muriithi Twenty-four co-operative societies in Embu County are struggling to pay a Sh90 million loan borrowed five years ago to set up a coffee mill that has since stalled. The debt has ballooned to Sh127 million as most societies are unable to service the loan. Each society was to pay Sh3.8 million, while the loan was secured by ...

By Kamundia Muriithi Twenty-four co-operative societies in Embu County are struggling to pay a Sh90 million loan borrowed five years ago to set up a coffee mill that has since stalled. The debt has ballooned to Sh127 million as most societies are unable to service the loan. Each society was to pay Sh3.8 million, while the loan was secured by ...

By John Majau A worldwide coffee roasting company, Illy Caffe Spa, has shown interest in buying coffee from Meru County. The company’s coffee buyer, Stefano Scanferla, recently visited Meru County Coffee Millers Co-operative Union (MCCMCU) for a fact finding mission. MCCMCU is the only coffee union licensed to mill coffee and market at the same time. The union mills coffee ...

By John Majau Tharaka-Nithi Deputy Governor Francis Kagwima has urged the youth in the area to form or join registered groups in order to benefit financially from the Government and donor funding. He said only registered youth groups will benefit from donor, national and county governments funding. Speaking to leaders at Ntunyai market, Kagwima said the county government will give ...

Kibugu Farmers’ Co-operative Society was awarded the overall prize for paying the highest average income per member in the county. The society emerged top in eight categories during the Ushirika Day celebrations in Embu County. It produced 2.56 million kilogrammes of cherry and was followed closely by Murue Co-operative with 2.25 million kilogrammes. The society’s factory Gicherori was rated as ...

By Boniface Mulu Kitui County Trade, Co-operatives and Investment Minister Philip Mumo  has said that the co-operatives are an important and efficient instrument to create wealth and fight poverty. “They bring people together in a democratic and equal way and allow people to take control of their economic future,” the minister added. Mumo said that in Kitui County, it is ...

By John Majau Co-operative leaders in Meru County want the national government to clear debts owed by farmers’ societies. Meru Dairy Co-operative Society chairman Mr Simon Kiruja urged Governor Kiraitu Murungi to petition President Uhuru Kenyatta on behalf of farmers to waiver the debt. Coffee Farmers Chairman Mr Mbaabu Mitunga lauded Kiraitu for adapting and implementing the Ethiopian coffee payment ...

By John Majau The County Government of Meru has raised the red flag against poorly performing coffee societies making losses and threatened to close them for being a liability to farmers. The Government has also put on notice societies producing less than 5,000 kilogrammes of coffee annually saying they will be merged to form strong co-operatives. Meru Trade and Co-operative ...

By Titus Murithi Nyambene Arimi Sacco members can now access their funds any time courtesy of Automated Teller Machines (ATM) which have been installed at all the Sacco branches. This financial service was a fulfilled pledge which had been promised to members during last year’s (2017) AGM. Also members will be alerted by their mobile phones when any financial transactions ...

Titus Murithi Co-operative stakeholders have asked the National Government to put aside proposals affecting Saccos in the current finance bill. Tirus Nyaga, Southern Star Sacco Chairman, said the proposal requiring any bank transfer of Sh500, 000 and above to attract excise duty of 0.05 per cent amounted to double taxation. “The proposal is not good for the Saccos because this ...