By OLIVER MUSEMBI
Members of Muka Mukuu Farmers Co-operative Society in Machakos County have cautioned the public against buying land surrounding Mt Kilimambogo, saying the area is designated as a forest zone.
The members said some people had already cut down trees and started farming on the sloping land, warning that those who buy the parcels risk losing their money.
At the same time, the society’s 2,616 shareholders, led by Peter Muasya, announced plans to hold a special general meeting on October 3 to elect new leaders.
The members accused the current office bearers of failing to safeguard the society’s assets and called for their removal.
Muasya also accused officials from the Ministry of Co-operatives of failing to act on complaints raised by members over alleged mismanagement and plunder of society property.
“Muka Mukuu members are deeply concerned about the wanton plunder of society assets, including the mining of building stones from the society’s quarries and illegal sale of land belonging to shareholders,” Muasya alleged.
He accused some senior officials in the Ministry of Co-operatives of protecting the society’s management despite a series of complaints over alleged irregular disposal of assets and other malpractices.
Muasya said a resolution passed by members during a general meeting on July 3 calling for fresh elections had been ignored by ministry officials.
He said members had consequently issued a notice for a special general meeting specifically to elect new leaders.
“Members have resolved to call fresh elections and elect new directors after an audit report implicated the current office bearers in misuse of society funds and other malpractices,” Muasya said.
Former society management committee member Constantino Mutua said the designated buffer zone had been degraded by people he suspected had acquired the land irregularly.
“This is going to cause serious soil erosion when it rains because the area reserved as a forest is on a slope of the mountain. The situation will be disastrous to the environment,” he said.
Mutua said more than 6,400 acres of land bordering the mountain’s buffer zone had yet to be subdivided and allocated to members.
He added that Mt Kilimambogo was part of more than 52,000 acres of land purchased by the society from a European settler to settle its members.
On August 5, members of Muka Mukuu Society ejected their leaders from office, accusing them of misappropriating millions of shillings belonging to the society.
The shareholders, mainly elderly men and women, installed an interim team after accusing the management of mismanaging the society’s affairs and causing losses of more than Sh250 million.
They unanimously appointed Mutisya Mutevu, the Supervisory Committee chairman, to remain in office on an interim basis until fresh elections are held.
They also announced the suspension of the management committee chaired by Dominic Mutuku pending the elections.
During a special meeting at the society’s Donyo Sabuk headquarters, speakers accused the management of misappropriating funds and called for intervention by the national government to facilitate changes in the society’s leadership.
