Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said the government will not back down on its commitment to flash out cartels particularly in the tea and coffee sectors.
The DP attributes the poor returns being witnessed in the sectors by farmers to the cartels.
He was speaking in Othaya, Nyeri county, while attending the burial of Mary Wangeci Kambono, the mother of Bishop Daniel Kambono, the Chairman of the Association of Pentecostal and Evangelical Clergy of Kenya (APECK).
President William Samoei Ruto recently directed the Deputy President to streamline the coffee and tea sectors to ensure farmers reap more benefits.
“Hao watu walikuwa wanakula pesa ya watu ya kahawa mtafute mahali pengine pa kukula. Niliita watu wa ktda niliwaketisha nikawaambia hii mambobya kupimia wakulima pesa kama dawa muache. Maziwa ilikuwa na ile kitu inaitwa state capture. Watu wawili watatu ndio wanakula jasho la mkulima. Kahawa iko macartel hapa wnaanunua kahawa 80 wanauza .. huko ngambo. Sasa rais amesema ondoa hii mlolongo mzima kati ya wakulima na hawa,” said.
The DP accused the cartels of fighting back and insisted that he remains undettered in the fight against tea cartels.
“Na ni watu kali wanalipa watu ya magazeti ati anzeni kulipa rigathi ndio aogope. Mimi mkiniangalia ni mtu ya kuogopa? Nimewaambia toeni pesa ya page 1 hadi 30 lakini pesa ya mkulima hamtakula,” he said
The DP has also called on Kenyans to exercise patience as the government lays down strategies of kickstarting stalled projects across the country.
“Mambo ya barabara ilikuwa imesimama sababu contractors hawajalipwa. Tuliingia kwa serikali tukakuta hakuna chochote. Lazima tutafute mbinu mpya ya kutafuta pesa ya kulipa hawa macontractor warudi,” said Gachagua.
The DP also delivered a message of condolence from the president to the family of Mary Wangeci. He hailed her as a hero and a hard worker.
