Coffee union rejects direct sales directive
By Elijah Cherutich, November 26, 2025The National Coffee Cooperative Union (NACCU) has rejected the government directive on the implementation of the direct sales system payments.
Speaking in Nakuru after concluding the delegates’ meeting on Wednesday, November 26, 2026, National Chairman Felix Mureithi Mwai said that the system would heavily cut off the cooperative movement, which is the engine of farmers’ support at the grassroots level.
He said that the order has not taken into consideration the input of all sector players on the need to preserve the voluntary management of coffee farmers to make a choice.
“The minister’s directive of November 18 is going to collapse the cooperatives, direct payment of coffee proceeds to members of pulping stations
“Cooperatives are the custodians of coffee proceeds and are autonomous and independent, and coffee farmers should be allowed to transact their business according to their bylaws and in line with the Cooperative Act, Cap 490,” he said.
He said that they will be working with other coffee producers who are small- and medium-sized estates.
“The country should revise its gears to the 1980s model where farmers managed their crops and understood the coffee husbandry better,” he said.
Maina Mureithi, secretary, NACCU, said that the coffee belongs to the farmers, and as such, there should be no individual or state officer who attempts to micromanage the process of the coffee sector.
He said that farmers should be at liberty to make their choices about how to dispose of their coffee and the mode of payment.
“We witness a lot more corrupt practices at the national government than the primary cooperative societies, and as such we should protect this space to enable farmers to enjoy their proceeds,” “” he said.
Hellen Kapelo from Pokot Union said that they support the move by NACCU to reject the DSS format, saying that cooperatives should continue to support.