Leaders and farmers in Meru County have lauded Meru Dairy Cooperative Union Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Gitonga for prudent management of farmers’ resources, citing investments that are beginning to yield tangible benefits.
The praise was voiced during the official handover of machinery for the Meru Dairy Maziwa Millers Factory at Mitunguu in South Imenti, an event graced by State Department for Cooperatives Principal Secretary Patrick Kiburi Kilemi and Forestry PS Gitonga Mugambi.
Speakers noted that the cooperative’s management and board had steered the union towards value addition, enabling its products to penetrate markets beyond Kenya into East and Central Africa. PS Kilemi described Mt Kenya’s dairy sector as a source of pride and identity for Meru, stressing that value addition was critical to sustaining the industry.
Meru Deputy Governor Linda Kiome hailed the establishment of the feed milling plant, saying it would significantly boost dairy productivity. She pointed out that Governor Mutuma M’Ethingia’s administration has been supplying maize seeds to farmers, with plans to distribute cotton and sunflower seeds to enhance raw material availability for the factory.
“The milling facility marks a major milestone in addressing high feed costs while improving quality. This initiative will boost productivity, improve animal health, and diversify farmers’ income,” Kiome said.
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CEO Gitonga reaffirmed the cooperative’s focus on improving milk production and ensuring farmers benefit from union investments, noting that partnerships with government and financial institutions had enabled the project’s progress.
Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Meru Branch Manager Lawrence Musyoka said the bank supported the project after detailed engagements with the cooperative, observing that high feed costs had been eroding farmers’ earnings. “We are glad the journey we started is now bearing fruit, and we will continue supporting the project until it becomes fully operational,” he said.
Mitunguu MCA Evans Mawira confirmed the project had received Sh100 million from the national government, adding that the arrival of machinery had restored confidence among farmers.
South Imenti MP Shadrack Mwiti, represented by Henry Muriungi, said the plant would lower production costs and increase earnings, noting that the area had also benefited from new milk coolers.
Meru County Commissioner Jacob Ouma dismissed claims of misused funds, saying the completion of the facility demonstrated accountability. “This factory will transform the local economy. Those who were spreading misinformation can now see the progress being made,” he said, urging farmers to increase raw material production to support the plant.
By John Majau
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