Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is alleging that coffee cartels have attempted to bribe the Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi.

In an interview with a local TV station, Gachagua claimed that the said cartels offered Linturi a sum of Ksh30 million immediately he assumed office.

“When this government took office, the coffee cartels sent a person to give CS Linturi Ksh30M, claiming that it was a welcoming gift and a gesture of good will.

“The person said that the coffee dealers know that Linturi is just from a campaign period which must have drained his pockets and the amount would thus come in handy with the aim of building a rapport with the coffee dealers.

“Linturi immediately reported the matter to the President ( William Ruto) and myself,” Gachagua narrated.

Speaking during the interview, Gachagua added that the news came as a shock to him and President Ruto, making them question whether all the government officials would maintain the same integrity as Linturi.

“If these people have started giving our ministers and Permanent Secretaries ( Principal Secretary) money, some of them may not be as firm as Linturi.

“Some are light hearted and they have pressing financial needs and some may be corrupt enough to take the money and forego the interests of the coffee farmers.

“That is when the president decided to take up the fight against the coffee cartels and told me to bring together CS Kuria ( Moses), Linturi and Chelugui (Simon) to assist in this dangerous fight, as I lead the team to represent the presidency,” Gachagua explained.

Poisoned

While expressing the dangers in the fight against the coffee cartels, Gachagua also claimed that his late brother, Nderitu Gachagua, attempted to get rid of the menace, but his efforts only led him to his grave.

He added that the risks involved are the reasons that he is best suited to lead the fight, as he is well guarded by security agents.

He insisted that the cartels are rogue people capable of every evil including murder. “As a family, we have always suspected that my brother, the late Governor Nderitu Gachagua, was given poisoned food by these same people and from the time he began fighting the cartels, his health started deteriorating. We highly suspect that these people harmed him,” Gachagua explained.

Further, Gachagua said that together with Ruto, they are taking precaution and security measures and he has also advised Linturi to do the same. “I have told Linturi to be careful about where he goes, eats, and the people around him, because this fight is not easy and even the farmers were in disbelief when we chose to take up the task,” he said.

Cecily Mbarire

When asked about the monopoly of the cartels which was raised during the coffee farmers meeting, Gachagua alleged that indeed, the cartels have penetrated the buying, milling and selling process and he further applauded Governor Coffee stakeholders meeting

In his efforts to ‘restore the glory of the coffee farming sector’, Gachagua revealed that he recently met 98 Members of Parliament, Governors and Senators from all the coffee producing areas to discuss and act from one common point.

“We talked and took oath to protect the welfare of the coffee farmers and decline any bribe presented to us, because God will punish us if we do so. We had a lengthy sober discussion all the way till 4:00 pm and concluded that we must put back money in the coffee farmers’ pockets and I believe we shall win this fight.

“We have talked to farmers, received their pleas and we shall draft the proposal and take it to the MPs for approval,” Gachagua concluded.