Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, Wycliffe Oparanya, has announced the payment of pending milk farmers' arrears during the Christmas week. The announcement was made at the National Annual Farmers’ End-Year Celebration and Awards in Kericho, where the government seeks to enhance farmers' liquidity. This move will provide financial support to farmers as they celebrate the holiday with their families.
At the national event in Kericho, CS Oparanya stated that the government aims to settle all outstanding farmers' balances to boost liquidity and ensure the sustainability of the dairy sector. He urged dairy farmers to maintain confidence in the Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) and support its operations to guarantee stable markets and long-term growth.
During the event, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Agriculture, Dr. Kiprono Rono, disclosed that the government has allocated Ksh3.5 billion to upgrade 19 tea factories nationwide, providing a significant boost to the tea sub-sector. Additionally, new tea sector reforms are intended to ensure timely payments for smallholder tea farmers. Each tea factory will operate its own bank account to enhance financial accountability and maintain accurate records.
These reforms will also allow the Tea Board of Kenya to closely monitor disbursements and enforce compliance across the tea sub-sector. At the awards ceremony, farmers from Kiambu County were recognized as the top coffee and poultry producers in the country. Those from Kirinyaga County were honored for being the best rice producers in 2025. In the livestock category, farmers from Wajir County received awards as the leading cattle farmers.
First Lady Rachel Ruto's Joyful Women Organisation (Joywo) was awarded for the Best Women's Organisation Supporting Farmers.