The National Treasury has firmly refuted allegations made by Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba regarding the alleged diversion of Sh1.5 billion from the Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund. Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo declared on Friday that claims of misallocation are misleading and unfounded.
“We want to reassure the public and all stakeholders that the Sh5 billion allocated for the Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund is intact,” Kiptoo stated, affirming that Sh3 billion is earmarked for coffee advances while Sh2 billion is designated for coffee debt payments.
Wamuchomba had previously claimed on a local radio station that billions intended for the Coffee Cherry Fund had been misused, revealing that only Sh750 million of the Sh6.75 billion allocated in recent years had been distributed to farmers. She quoted previous promises that the fund would grow to Sh6 billion in the 2024-25 financial year.
However, Kiptoo clarified, “No funds have been diverted or misused from the Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund. We adhere strictly to the Public Finance Management Act and all legal guidelines.” He explained that while the State Department for Cooperatives had requested a reallocation of Sh1.5 billion, the Treasury ultimately declined, emphasizing that all funds should remain dedicated to assisting coffee farmers.
The Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund is designed to provide accessible financing to smallholder coffee farmers, ensuring support for local agricultural communities.
