Kirinyaga rice farmers are up in arms over plans by the Water Resources Management Authority (Warma) to increase levies for Irrigation water.
Farmers are required to pay Sh15,000 per acre of rice up from Sh3,000 annually.
Led by the Mwea Irrigation Scheme Water Users Association chairman, Mauricious Mutugi, the farmers vowed to resist any attempts to force them to pay the new water levies.
"Water levies have been increased five times and this is total exploitation. The new levies have even been gazetted but we shall not pay," said Mr Mutugi.
Speaking Sunday at Wang'uru area, the farmers said the move by Warma will lead to the collapse of the giant scheme which produces 80 percent of rice produced in the country.
"Farmers have been paying Sh3,000 per every irrigated acre of rice annually through the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) but Warma has increased the levies, yet it does not provide any services to us," added Mr Mutugi.
"Should Warma force farmers to pay the new rates, we shall seek legal redress," added Mr Mutugi.
A farmer, John Kinyua said he was shocked by Warma's new plans.
Mr Kinyua noted that the farmers could not afford to pay the levies and asked the government to intervene.
"The government should step in and have the levies reviewed, lest we suffer," said Mr Kinyua.
The association’s secretary Joseph Njenga called for the disbandment of Warma, saying it does not have farmers’ interests at heart.
"Warma is determined to destroy rice farming which enhances food security and it should be disbanded," said Mr Njenga.
"Warma didn't convene a meeting to seek our views and what it did was unconstitutional," he protested.
"I'm concerned over what Warma has done at the expense of the farmers. The matter should be addressed with the seriousness it deserves," said Ms Ngirici.
