By Sean Ngirichi
The row between the coffee farmers and the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) has landed in the court, with Kerugoya High Court extending the conservatory orders barring the implementation of the Direct Settlement System (DSS) to July 28.
The farmers put in an accelerated battle ahead of July 15, when coffee auction resumes at NCE, after the Cooperative Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya issued a directive in November last year. The last sale in 2024/2025 was on May 6.
The Cooperative Bank that manages the DSS has applied to be enjoined in the civil suit lodged by the Kirinyaga Slopes Coffee Brokerage Company Limited, Kirinyaga county cooperative union and cooperative societies from across the country.
The petitioners are opposed to the implementation of the reforms that seek to have them paid directly, a move that has met strong opposition
“The court is extending the conservatory order to July 28, when the matter will be heard,” ruled Justice Edward Muriithi, sitting in Kerugoya High Court.
During the court session, the attentive coffee growers from Kirinyaga and neighbouring counties camped in and outside the courtroom.
Immediately after the ruling, they burst into songs and dance, castigating the government saying the direct payment will kill the cooperative movement.
In the streets, they sang songs ridiculing the government calling for a halt of the implementation of direct payment.
They later presented their grievances to the Kirinyaga Central sub-county Deputy county commissioner Josephine Mwengi.
In the grievances, they pleaded with the government to abandon the implementation of the direct payment, arguing the move would weaken the cooperative sector.
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