The Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives has called upon the management of the New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU) to review its approach to warehouse modernization.

The Committee chaired by Hon. James Gakuya (Embakasi North) expressed concerns that the current mode where the agency is refurbishing multiple storage facilities is not cost-effective and may not achieve its intended results.

“We recommend that once New KPCU receives budgetary allocation for modernization of its warehouses, it should prioritize the completion of one warehouse at a time,” reads part of the report tabled on the Floor of the House by the Vice Chairperson, Hon Marianne Kitany (Aldai).

The report also explains that this approach is proposed in view of the fact that the agency attempted to modernize multiple warehouses simultaneously, resulting in slow progress towards completion. It added that, by prioritizing one warehouse at a time, the agency can streamline the process and achieve more efficient results.

Amongst the recommendations in the report is that, the National Assembly considers and approves the allocation of Kshs.15 billion in the current financial year, for the optimal operation of the Coffee Cherry Fund.

The Committee observed that the amount will adequately cater for the upscaling of payment to the coffee farmers across the country. It noted that the current allocation of Kshs.4 billion in the 2023/ 2024 financial year is insufficient.

In March, the Committee conducted an inspection visit of the New KPCU headquarters in Nairobi, where they engaged the management of the agency led by Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr.  Timothy Mirugi.

In addition, the Committee undertook inspection tours of the union godowns in Dandora, Nairobi County, Sagana in Kirinyaga county and Meru town in Meru County where they apprised themselves on the agency’s operations.