Rice farmers under the Mwea Irrigation Scheme are demanding the immediate payment of Sh210 million owed to them after the government bought 25,760 bags of rice from their cooperative in June.
The farmers say the delayed payment has left many struggling to pay school fees, buy farm inputs and meet household expenses at a time when they have already begun another rice production cycle.
The rice, packed in 50-kilogramme bags, was bought from the Mwea Rice Growers Multipurpose Cooperative Society (MRGM) after the government stepped in to address marketing challenges that had left farmers with large stocks of unsold produce.
MRGM Chairman Ndege Muriuki said the intervention had initially brought relief to farmers, who had struggled to find buyers since the beginning of the year.
However, he said the expected payment has not been released, leaving farmers increasingly frustrated.
“The government bought 25,760 bags from our stores, amounting to Sh210 million. For the last few weeks, we have been waiting for the payment,” Muriuki said at the cooperative's stores in Wang’uru.
He said farmers, including elderly members of the cooperative, have been visiting the society's offices daily seeking answers on when they will receive their money.
“I am having sleepless nights because farmers are coming here asking for their money. We are asking the government to intervene and ensure they are paid,” he said.
According to Muriuki, the cooperative had been informed that payment would be made by July 31, but the deadline passed without the money being released.
He blamed the earlier marketing difficulties partly on competition from imported rice, saying farmers had expected prompt payment once the government agreed to mop up their stocks.
“We thought once the government bought the rice, payment would be made immediately. It has now been more than three weeks, and farmers are still waiting,” he said.
The growers are now appealing to the government to facilitate the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) to clear the outstanding amount.
MRGM Chief Executive Officer Anthony Waweru welcomed the government's decision to purchase the rice, saying the intervention helped clear stocks that farmers had struggled to sell.
He, however, urged authorities to speed up the payment process.
“We appreciate the government for responding to our appeal and mopping up all the bags. What we are asking now is for the payment to be expedited so that farmers can meet their obligations,” Waweru said.
Several farmers who visited the cooperative offices said the delay was already affecting activities in their farms.
Farmer Francis Ndung'u said growers were not blaming the cooperative, but wanted the money owed to them released.
“We have come here to ask for our money. We are not at war with MRGM, but we cannot even weed our farms because we have not received the payment,” Ndung'u said.
Another farmer, Antony Mbute, said the delay had affected his ability to meet his children's school expenses.
“The cooperative looks for a market for our rice, but without the payment, I cannot even take my children to school,” he said.
Farmers said they have already transplanted rice for the new season and urgently need money to buy fertiliser and pay for other farm operations.
They warned that further delays could disrupt production and deepen financial pressure on households that depend heavily on rice farming for their livelihoods.
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