Nyeri coffee farmers rage at Starbucks officials
Submitted on Sat, 12/09/2006 - 7:58pm
By Moses Njagih and agencies - The Standard, December 2, 2006.
Angry farmers from a coffee factory in Nyeri District have blasted officials of the Starbucks Coffee Company for refusing to respond to their questions on a project the multinational is undertaking in the area.
The American coffee retailer is involved in the Kenya Heartland Coffee project, to help farmers to improve the quality of their crop.
But during a visit by Starbuck officials, irate farmers of Kihuyo Coffee Factory accused Mr James Donald, the company’s president, of using them to rake in billions in profits. The American official had tough meetings with Ethiopian coffee growers earlier in the week.
Kihuyo and Kiamariga factories in Mathira division are involved in the Heartland project.
"Starbucks interests are only in making profits from our coffee, and yet they are not even mindful about our welfare," asked Mr John Kabira, a farmer.
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