The Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, Wycliffe Oparanya, has announced the payment of pending milk farmers' arrears during the Christmas week.
The announcement, made during the National Annual Farmers’ End-Year Celebration and Awards in Kericho, will see farmers get their dues during Christmas time, which will financially boost them as they spend the holiday with their loved ones.
The Cabinet Secretary revealed that the government aimed to settle outstanding farmers' balances to boost farmer liquidity and support the sustainability of the dairy sector.
The CS urged dairy farmers to continue placing their confidence in the Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) and supporting its operations to ensure stable markets and long-term growth.
During the event, the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Agriculture, Dr Kiprono Rono, revealed that the government has injected Ksh3.5 billion to upgrade 19 tea factories across the country in a major boost to the tea sub-sector.
The PS also revealed that new tea sector reforms are designed to ensure timely remuneration for smallholder tea farmers.
To ensure this, the PS announced that each tea factory is to operate its own bank account.
This move will also improve financial accountability within factories, facilitating accurate record-keeping.
The reforms will also enable the Tea Board of Kenya to closely monitor disbursements and enforce compliance across the tea sub-sector.
During the awarding ceremony, farmers from Kiambu County were recognised as the best coffee and poultry producers.
Farmers from Kirinyaga County were recognised for being the best rice producers in the country in 2025.
In the livestock farming category, farmers from Wajir County were awarded as the best cattle farmers.
First Lady Rachel Ruto's Joyful Women Organisation (Joywo) was also awarded for the Best Women's Organisation Supporting Farmers.
