In a meeting with Imenti North District Commissioner Mr. David Cherop today, the farmers’ chairperson Mr. Peter Kobia said their children in secondary and higher learning institutions were bound to drop out if the company  to pay them for the  last year’s arrears soon.

He said their decision to hold the demonstration was prompted by reports that other buyers had released their pricing and buying schedule.

Kobia said they wanted the agreement with the company revoked after realizing that the initial contract was unfriendly to the farmers and the delivery notes were fading soon after issue.

“We don’t really know how much the company owes the farmers because the notes are faded,” claimed the chairperson.

He condemned the company’s policy of shifting them from one bank to another saying the move was aimed at shortchanging them.

Kobia accused the company of imposing much interest on fertilizers.  “Farmers urgently need the money to buy food and take our children to school now that schools have opened and there was food shortage last season” said Mr. Kobia.

He further said other farmers with other companies had got bonuses appealing to the government to intervene since they had invested so much in preparing the crop for market.

Responding to their grievances area DC encouraged the farmers to form a strong Farmers Association to help them champion for their rights holding that every mwananchi had a right to peaceful demonstration.

He however termed the destruction of property at the Meru National Cereals and Produce Board amid the demonstrations as illegal. He  assured the farmers that their grievances would be dealt with before the end of the week.