Uhuru Kenyatta writes off Sh2 billion in coffee debts

President Kenyatta has written off Sh2 billion in debts owed by coffee farmers.

Addressing residents of Kirinyaga on Tuesday on his tour of central Kenya, the president said the government had released the cash to Cooperative Bank.

Farmers who had secured their loans using title deeds, he said, should collect them.

SH791M SCAM

During the tour, Mr Kenyatta met with his rival-turned-friend Martha Karua, who was among leaders who received him at Kerugoya stadium.

In Kianyaga, the president met and greeted former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru, who made a dramatic exit from the Cabinet over a Sh791 million scandal at the National Youth Service.

Mr Kenyatta hugged Ms Karua in a rare show of the political bond that has been growing between the two in the recent months.

Ms Karua recently told her supporters that they are free to support Mr Kenyatta's re-election bid but back her for the Kirinyaga governor's seat.

President Kenyatta on Tuesday told Ms Karua to join his Jubilee party if she wants to work with him in the 2017 General Election.

LEFT VENUE

Ms Karua had left the venue after the crowd shouted Jubilee Party slogans when she was introduced.

She flashed the two-finger salute at the crowd in defiance of the president's call.

The former Justice minister has maintained that she will not dissolve her party to join any coalition.

Both Ms Karua and Ms Waiguru are eyeing the Kirinyaga governorship.

And in a bid to ward off accusations that he favours certain candidates, the president said he has not sent or endorsed anybody for any seat.