MP targets to create one million jobs within the Mt. Kenya region through farming

Thika Town MP Eng. Patrick Wainaina has vowed to mobilise farmers across the Mt. Kenya Region with a view to making agriculture a viable business and creating a million jobs in this sector.

The MP acknowledged the challenges brought about by mismanagement of the co-operative societies saying that with proper structures, the farmers could reap big from their endeavours. 

While speaking in Thika during a agribusiness workshop for coffee farmers drawn from Kiambu County, Wainaina noted that corruption by the leadership of the old Kenya Planters Co-operative Union (KPCU) and exploitation by middlemen were they main factors that killed the coffee sector.

He urged the farmers to form themselves into clusters to enable them take charge of their coffee. He promised to guide them into this venture, ensuring they sold their coffee to the New KPCU without the involvement of middlemen.

"I have talked to the New KPCU management and will follow up to see all farmers get their money lost in the old KPCU. We should also take advantage of the restructuring of the coffee sector as engineered by Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya to ensure good market for the crop," he told the farmers.

He also urged the farmers to take advantage of Cherry fund saying the money would end up into people's pockets if not taken.