Cooperatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya on Thursday sent the entire management team at Kangunu Cooperative Society in Murang’a County packing citing gross misconduct.
Speaking in Mathioya while meeting farmers who had requested his intervention, Oparanya noted that the order would take effect immediately. The CS further warned the fired employees to not set foot into the premises in any managerial capacity.
“Starting today, the management committee of Kangunu Cooperative Society should step aside and keep off from any business relating to the cooperative,” he said
The decision, Oparanya said, was informed by the poor management, unjust expulsion, harassment, and illegal deduction of members’ payments that have been taking place in the society for the last seven years.
Cabinet Secretary for Cooperative and MSMEs Wycliffe Oparanya addressing SACCO officials on Wednesday, September 11.
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Oparanya
Consequently, Oparanya said that investigations into the misconduct by the Commissioner of Cooperatives would begin immediately.
He also urged him to conduct a fresh election in 14 days with the view to shake up the leadership and encouraged the coffee farmers to show up and have their voice heard.
In the interim, Oparanya said that the Head of Cooperatives, Stephen Wambugu will take over the leadership who will be assisted by the county’s security team.
The society had been rocked with protests over mismanagement of funds for years. The discontentment finally boiled over last week at a planned Annual General Meeting (AGM) when members found the premises occupied by police officers and unknown people posing as farmers.
Farmers who had been expelled from the society were also reinstated and advised to start harvesting and selling coffee to the factory immediately.
Besides the leadership changes, Oparanya also faulted the mandatory deductions of 5% on farmers earnings calling it theft as the funds were not properly accounted for.
Noting that the situation at Kangunu was a rampant problem in Kenya, Oparanya urged the EACC and the DCI to intervene and arrest and prosecute anyone found culpable of misappropriating funds in the coffee industry.
“I call upon the investigating bodies and the DCI to arrest any individual who will be a suspect of the misappropriation of the coffee farmers’ resources.” He added
Oparanya assured the coffee farmers that the Cooperative Bill, when passed, will introduce measures to help reduce election misconduct and one management committee leading for a long time.
Former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya at a rally in Kakamega County on August 20, 2020.
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Wycliffe Oparanya
