By OLIVER MUSEMBI
Shareholders of Muka Mukuu Farmers Co-operative Society in Machakos County have elected new leaders following years of wrangles and allegations of mismanagement.
Members, who held a special general meeting at the society’s headquarters in Kilimambogo, Matungulu Sub-county, last Saturday, elected a nine-member management committee chaired by Peter Muasya to oversee its affairs.
The elections came nearly two months after shareholders declared that they had suspended the incumbent office bearers, accusing them of running down the society and failing to account for millions of shillings.
Members of the outgoing management committee, led by chairman Dominic Mutuku, did not attend the meeting, which proceeded without incident.
During the meeting, presided over by Matungulu Sub-county Co-operative Officer Sharon Kurui, the shareholders, mainly elderly men and women, also elected three members of a supervisory committee.
Ms Kurui said the meeting had been properly convened by the members after the sitting management committee failed several times to call it as requested by shareholders.
She said the action was in accordance with the law and assured the shareholders that her office was impartial and committed to ensuring that their concerns were addressed.
“I have been under a lot of pressure, with some people accusing my office of being biased, but my presence here is proof that I am neutral. As government officers, we are ready to serve you as required of us,” Ms Kurui said.
The shareholders had accused senior officials in the Co-operative Ministry of ignoring their concerns over alleged mismanagement and plunder of the society’s assets, including the alleged illegal sale of land.
They also claimed previous attempts to hold elections had failed, accusing the former office bearers of colluding with some government officials to frustrate their efforts.
A member, Constantino Mutua, claimed the management committee had failed to account for more than 6,400 acres of a buffer zone that had been set aside for allocation to members.
He also alleged that millions of shillings were being lost through unauthorised transactions and the sale of society property, including the harvesting of building stones.
“We have evidence that some of the directors withdrew up to Sh650,000 for their own use without approval from shareholders as required by law. They had turned the society into a personal cash cow,” Mutua alleged.
Mr Muasya, who was elected chairman of the new management committee, said his team would seek to restore the society’s property once it assumed office.
He, however, warned that the new officials could face resistance from members of the ousted management team.
“We know those who have been in office are not happy with the decision by shareholders to kick them out, but we are going to face them head-on,” Muasya said.
