Mkulima Moments: Traitor tag aborts reconciliation meeting

We were almost going to the agenda of the day after the symbolic sharing of the meal and drink when Mzee Jeremiah brought the topic of the Judas Iscariot, referring to me as a traitor of Mashambani farmers. “How on earth would our chairman bring the tax people here where smallholder farmers have been struggling?” Mzee Jeremiah asked. ILLUSTRATION | IGAH | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • My position as chairman of Mashambani Co-operative Society is hanging precariously. It all started after the visit of the two tax men to Mkulima Mixed farm who disguised themselves as potential farmers.
  • Due to the loneliness I have been encountering like Judas or a like a politician who has quit a political party, I was now ready to sort out issues with Mzee Jeremiah.
  • How on earth would our chairman bring the tax people here where smallholder farmers have been struggling.
  • We pay levies, county cess, marketplace brokers, transporters, tax on inputs and still they want us to pay tax on the meagre sales we work so hard for?

Things are getting a bit crazy for me. I am now being treated as a traitor by the many small-scale farmers  for whom I have struggled to help in marketing  their produce, providing information and linkages to external experts.

My position as chairman of Mashambani Co-operative Society is hanging precariously. It all started after the visit of the two tax men to Mkulima Mixed farm who disguised themselves as potential farmers.

This was after media highlighted me as millionaire farmer. Since then no one wants to be associated with me. Mzee Jeremiah and WakaGeorge who managed to escape the encounter with the tax men have been spreading the rumours that am now a farmers tax agent at Mashambani.

Like WakaGeorge, my regular visitors have disappeared from the farm. Wekesa, my farmhand, has reduced contacts with me and now concentrates more on his obligations at the farm. After a hard day’s work, he retreats to his small house which I have provided for free though he occasionally goes to  Check Point Hotel in the evenings to watch news.

I won’t have known the weight of the matter until Mzee Jeremiah, through his messenger, WakaGeorge, revisited the issue of lunch date reconciliation. You will recall Mzee Jeremiah, one of my harshest critics, owes me money.

Notwithstanding that he took me to the area chief accusing me of the intention to cause harm to his old body that may not heal now due to his old age.
On many occasions he has extended overtures to reconcile with me hoping I will write off the debt.

Due to the loneliness I have been encountering like Judas or a like a politician who has quit a political party, I was now ready to sort out issues with Mzee Jeremiah.

On the day of the meeting, WakaGeorge had scribbled something on a manila paper as “Reserved” at one of the seats at Check Point Hotel indicating the seriousness of the meeting.

MKULIMA AS A TRAITOR OF MASHAMBANI FARMERS

Mzee Jeremiah, who is also known to be very stingy, had contributed one of his big Kari improved kienyenji chicken and it goes without saying that Wekesa, my farmhand, was the one to slaughter the chicken.

Muchiri, who now has diversified to briquettes making, contributed one debe of briquettes which he claims its his innovations yet to be patented.

Being the main person for the meeting, I had to be late, just like an ordinary guest of honour at a local harambee would do. I found a crowd that I had not anticipated.

 Mzee Jeremiah was there with his trade mark brown striped coat with a matching Herringbone Baker Boy Caps and his walking stick. His chin was resting on the crook of his walking stick in a quiet mood which was not at all like his character of the loudmouthed Mzee we know.

WakaGeorge with his stained white dust coat appeared to be occupied in ensuring that additional seats were available to any person arriving. Wekesa and Muchiri were busy in the kitchen indicating this was a men affairs only.

Mzee Kabeca was scribbling something on the side of the newspaper indicating he would be guiding the reconciliation.

We were almost going to the agenda of the day after the symbolic sharing of the meal and drink when Mzee Jeremiah brought the topic of the Judas Iscariot, referring to me as a traitor of Mashambani farmers.

“How on earth would our chairman bring the tax people here where smallholder farmers have been struggling?” Mzee Jeremiah asked.

“Mzee Jeremiah, that’s not in today’s agenda,” Mzee Kabeca cautioned.

“No. This needs to be addressed,” shouted WakaGeorge.

FULFILLING HIS SELFISH INTEREST

“They even want me to have the ETR machine to give receipt after I sell my mandazi! “ he continued ignoring Mzee Kabeca.

“What is ETR,” asked Muchiri.

I even don’t know, you can ask Mkulima, the tax agent,” WakaGeorge added with sarcasm.

“ETR is electronic….,” I tried to explain.

“Hatutaki kujua,” shouted Mzee Jeremiah.

“Are you evading tax or avoiding it?” Mzee Kabeca asked.

“Wachana na hio kizungu yako,” Mzee Jeremiah retorted.
“I am the oldest and most enlightened Mashambani elder,” Mzee Jeremiah bragged.

“And we have never had such a person who betrays his own people,” Mzee Jeremiah continued.

“Mkulima is aiming to fulfil his self-interest not the Mashambani people interest,” continued Mzee Jeremiah.

“How do they expect a farmer like me to keep records and deduct my labour to establish my income?” one farmer asked.

“We pay levies, county cess, marketplace brokers, transporters, tax on inputs and still they want us to pay tax on the meagre sales we work so hard for?”

“I will pay tax when they repair the roads,” declared Mzee Jeremiah as he left.

“But Mzee Jeremiah we have not even started our meeting agenda.”

“I am not discussing anything with a traitor,” he shouted as he left.