A roadside political announcement made during the 2017 campaigns has come to haunt hundreds of farmers within the vast Bura Irrigation Scheme in Tana River County after they received letters from the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) demanding payment of an Sh67.5 million debt.
[ATTACH=full]238114[/ATTACH] Farmers at the Bura Irrigation Scheme in Tana River on May 15, 2019 display letters requiring to repay loans earlier given to them. A roadside political announcement made during the 2017 campaigns has come to haunt them as AFC is demanding payment of a Sh67.5 million debt. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The money had apparently been written off in a declaration by the Jubilee administration during the 2017 General Election campaigns.
Carrying letters which they had received from AFC Bank, farmers Wednesday held protests in Bura town asking the government to come clean on the issue as they have no money to repay the loan.
According to the letters, individual farmers are required to pay their loans with the interest accrued over the past two-and-a-half years.
“We do not understand why we are being asked to pay the loan despite the fact that Deputy President William Ruto directed the AFC to cancel the debt during the 2017 General Election campaigns. The issue is really frustrating us and we do not know where to start,” said Milka Samuel, one of the farmers.
Another farmer, Mr Macharo Mudi, said before receiving the loans, they were shocked to find out that more than 2,500 farmers had been listed with the credit reference bureau (CRB) hence lowering their credit rate. During 2017 campaigns, DP Ruto visited the area twice and announced that the government had written off the loan.
Kenyans think when they elect a president mtuwetu they will not suffer without realizing we either suffer or profit all of us whether you voted or no. They take everything politicians say wakiomba kura as truth - ata boychild udanganya apate mgal dem
Let me let you in on a small secret. The current MD of AFC is a Ruto ally who had intended to vie for the Busia county governorship. His plans were curtailed by Abandu who were Raila damu. Ruto makes a roadside declaration that is affirmed by the AFC MD. Go figure now who is fucking the farmers. Na bado kuna ng’ombe huko zinaimba liwe liwalo.
Similar to what happened in Nigeria earlier this year. Urban Nigerians were against a Buhari presidency but rural ocha ocha ghasia were like liwe liwalo Buhari for president.
After Buhari won, he abandoned them. They are now complaining. Urban dwellers are like we told u so.
Kenya enjoys recognition the world over, thanks to numerous medals bagged by its athletes in various disciplines.
While such abilities would prompt other countries to nurture their young upcoming sports stars, in many cases the story here is different.
Young athletes are not receiving the required support from the government.
[ATTACH=full]238245[/ATTACH] GATWIRI: She was the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games champion. She says the government
has not given her money for her winnings. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Susan Gatwiri is one of them. She represented Kenya in the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games held in the US, bagging two gold medals: in the 5,000 meters and 3,000 meters contest.
It is a fact that saw this 21-year-old feted at the SOYA Awards in 2016, a recognition that came with Sh75,000.