By Our Reporter
Worth Noting:
- “We are going for those cartels which have been benefiting from coffee, tea, milk and other produces. We cannot allow a few individuals to continue enriching themselves at the cost of farmers, ” declared Gachagua who was accompanied by Lands Cabinet Secretary Zachariah Mwangi Njeru.
- The DP said him and the Head of State, Dr William Ruto had no interest in coffee, tea or milk sectors and thus they will aggressively lead in dismantling the cartels.
- He said peasants farmers who were being exploited by the said cartels were the ones who overwhelmingly voted in the new government and thus, they would not sit down and watch as the voters suffered.
The government will in the next few days reign on cartels that control multibillion sectors of Coffee, Tea and Milk rendering farmers destitute.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said the Kenya Kwanza government would ruthlessly deal with individuals who have formed cartels that have for decades been reaping various farmers sweat.
Speaking at Giakaibei area in Magutu, Mathira constituency during the burial of former area Member of Parliament Eliud Matu Wamae, the Deputy President said the crackdown will start in January.
He said the government will see to it that farmers reap maximum profit from their toil.
“We are going for those cartels which have been benefiting from coffee, tea, milk and other produces. We cannot allow a few individuals to continue enriching themselves at the cost of farmers, ” declared Gachagua who was accompanied by Lands Cabinet Secretary Zachariah Mwangi Njeru.
The DP said him and the Head of State, Dr William Ruto had no interest in coffee, tea or milk sectors and thus they will aggressively lead in dismantling the cartels.
He said peasants farmers who were being exploited by the said cartels were the ones who overwhelmingly voted in the new government and thus, they would not sit down and watch as the voters suffered.
“These farmers are the ones who supported us. They voted for us. Me and the President have no interest in these sectors and you can be sure that we shall not collaborate with cartels to exploit you. We will deal with them and rest when you start enjoying your sweat,” he said.
He paid glowing tribute to the late Wamae saying as the chairman of New KCC, he withered intimidation from interested parties and ensured that the organization thrived.
Similar sentiments on how the deceased run the dairy sector firm which was on its deathbed when he took over were aired by most of the speakers who addressed the mourners.
They included Nyeri County governor Mutahi Kahiga, area Senator Wahome Wamatinga and former cabinet minister Dr Chris Murungaru.
Gachagua said the new government will also address ills facing other sectors across the country so that citizens could be well empowered economically.
The requiem mass was celebrated by retired Catholic Archbishop Peter Kairu.
In the honour of the late Wamae who was a staunch follower , the Catholic church said they would build a new church in the area which the Deputy President and Senator Wamatinga announced they would assist in establishing.
The mass to bid the late Wamae farewell was also attended by among others Laikipia County Deputy Governor Reuben Kamuri, his Nyeri counterpart David Kinaniri, Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi, businessmen Dr Thuo Mathenge, Wanyaga Gathaka, former Mukurwe-ini MP Muhika Mutahi and former Kirinyaga County Senator Daniel Karaba.
New KCC which is the last public firm where the late Wamae worked was represented by several officials led Dr Ignitius Gathigi Kahiu and board member Maina Kamiru.
Though they did not attend the mass several other leaders sent their condolences messages to his family.
This group was led by President Ruto whose message was read by the Deputy President.
Others were Democratic Party of Kenya whose message was jointly penned by its Secretary General Dr Jacob Haji and Director of Election D.K. Munene.
The Kenya Development Corperation through its acting Director General Norah Ratemo, former Nyeri Senator Ephraim Maina Kirinyaga and former State House Comptroller Matere Keriri also penned their tributes which were in his eulogy.
Later, the remains of the late Wamae who died last week at the age 85 years were intered in a private ceremony at his Kanjuri home, about three kilometres from the requiem mass venue.