DP Rigathi Gachagua has accused the media of conspiring with cartels to jeopardize the livelihoods of coffee farmers.
Speaking on Sunday at the MCK Church Kaleo in Igembe North, Meru County, Rigathi Gachagua claimed that the media had been compromised and was partnering with powerful 'cartels,' jeopardizing coffee farmers' livelihoods.
Gachagua accused the 'cartels' of undermining him by funding newspapers and manipulating opinion polls. He stated that the government is determined to intervene in the coffee industry, which disputes between brokers and growers have long beset.
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The second in command has stated that he will not bow to pressure from so-called cartels, saying that they will be put in their place in not more than four weeks.
The DP also revealed suspected attempts to sway government reform decisions. He said that Mithika Linturi, Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development, was promised Ksh.30 million but turned it down.
Those with vested interests then approached the Deputy President with offers to abandon reforms, which he turned down.
Gachagua claimed that the present administration had abandoned those changes in favor of more farmer-friendly policies.
He indicated that attempts were underway to discover new markets for coffee in nations such as Colombia and the United States, intending to bypass brokers and allow farmers to sell directly to interested consumers.
He chastised government officials he suspected of working with coffee brokers and told them that neither he nor President Ruto would be intimidated.
