Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi(left),Rigathi Gachagua(right).
By I.P reporter.
Mathira Member of Parliament Eric Wamumbi has defended Mt Kenya legislators from accusations made by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that they have been slow to expedite the passing of the coffee bill and cooperative bill 2023 but swift to impeach him from office.
Gachagua, had urged the legislators to use the same “speed and efficiency” with which they removed him from office to pass these critical bills, essential to the region’s economic reform.
“The speed they used to impeach me, let them use the same speed to pass the Coffee Bill. Let it be passed and be gazetted after the presidential assent. I want to urge Mt. Kenya leaders who impeached me to use the same speed and efficiency to pass the Coffee Bill 2023 and Cooperative Bill 2023,” Gachagua stated.
He also urged President William Ruto to strengthen efforts against illicit alcohol in the region, an issue he claims he fought diligently, even if his role in the government has now been reduced.
Wamumbi, Gachagua’s area MP, responded to these remarks, alleging that Gachagua’s past involvement in the coffee sector was marred by schemes to defraud farmers.
Wamumbi argued that Gachagua’s connections with certain companies hindered genuine coffee reforms and accused him of mismanaging funds meant to benefit coffee farmers.
“H.E. Rigathi Gachagua, EGH, the reason why we cannot pass the Coffee Bill 2023 with the speed you want is that we must first deal with all the plans you had to steal coffee farmers’ money,” Wamumbi alleged.
He further claimed that companies tied to the former DP were involved in exploiting coffee farmers and that Gachagua had interests in closing down the Mathira Coffee Millers to gain control over local coffee sales.
The youthful M.P.accused Gachagua of diverting Ksh3 per kilo on every Nyeri coffee farmer’s produce for his benefit.
Wamumbi emphasized that before they can address the development needs of the Mt. Kenya region, they must first clean up what he called “the mess” created by Gachagua in the coffee sector.
Ends.
