The fight against coffee cartels in Kenya has taken a new turn amid fresh allegations of corruption involving senior government officials.
Sources suggest that a high-ranking official may have accepted payments from cartels, receiving Ksh 3 per kilogram of coffee in exchange for protection, casting a shadow over the government’s efforts to defend farmers from exploitation.
Insiders claim the cartels initially approached former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi before turning to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who is said to have rejected their offer and dismissed them.
However, allegations indicate that another senior official accepted the deal, raising serious concerns about integrity within the government. As divisions within the administration deepened, Deputy President Gachagua allegedly threatened to expose those profiting from Kenya’s coffee industry and name the faces behind these illegal operations.
The situation escalated when National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah publicly accused Deputy President Gachagua of failing to protect farmers and suggested he might be involved with the cartels.
Observers believe that both Ichung’wah and Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri have been deployed to intimidate and undermine Gachagua, fearing that he might reveal the identities of those involved. But a critical question has emerged: Who is this senior official profiteering from Kenya’s coffee industry, and why does everyone fear him?
Speculation is rife that this individual wields significant influence, capable of manipulating public perception and political alliances.
Critics argue that these allegations and counter-accusations could undermine the government’s battle against corruption in the coffee sector. The involvement of political figures such as Ichung’wah and Kiunjuri in what appears to be a coordinated campaign against the Deputy President suggests a deliberate effort to discredit him.
As the war on coffee cartels intensifies, the question remains whether these revelations will derail efforts to bring transparency to the sector or strengthen the resolve to hold all involved parties accountable.