- They said they did not approve the formation of the Sacco and neither did they consent to the deductions
- Rebecca Wambui, a farmer, said the goons who attacked them during the protests were hired by the management
Image: Alice Waithera
Farmers from Kangunu Coffee Co-operative Society in Mathioya, Murang’a county were accosted by goons as they protested poor management of the society.
They claimed the co-operative has been rocked by scandals and instead of addressing their grievances, the management is intimidating them.
The farmers' woes began in 2017 when the co-operative started deducting five per cent from each farmer's earnings for Kangunu sacco.
They said they did not approve the formation of the Sacco and neither did they consent to the deductions.
Rebecca Wambui, a farmer, said the goons who attacked them during the protests were hired by the management.
“They use our money to hire armed youths to stop us from meeting. We want them out,” she said.
She said mismanagement of finances has forced some members to hawk their coffee to neighbouring cooperatives in Gitugi and Kiru.
Wambui said some of their leaders have been expelled from the society.
“They expelled some members and attempts by local co-operative officers to resolve the contentious issues were unsuccessful” she said.
Wambui accused the co-operative of taking advantage of the advanced age of members to impose the draconian rules.
Chairperson Geoffrey Macharia dismissed the claims saying only a few critics have been misinforming farmers.
He said farmers approved the deductions to support procurement of inputs and foodstuffs.
The chairperson said disgruntled members of the coffee society can seek legal redress.
John Chege said they have become helpless and the government has failed to intervene.
Chege is one of the farmers expelled from the cooperative in 2022 for demanding accountability.
“This organisation has lost millions in loans. In 2022, the managers locked Co-operative Ministry officers from accessing their offices to stop them from inspecting the co-operative’s books of accounts.”
Chege said he received that said he had become a burden to the organisation and made it to incur losses.
Farmers questioned the society’s decision to acquire expensive loans from millers instead of getting cheaper loans from local Saccos.
In 2021, the cooperative was one of the best paying at Sh106 per kg.
Mary Njeri said thousands of shillings are deducted from her account every time she receives payment.
“This year, they have deducted Sh8,000 and I wonder why I have to keep contributing to a Sacco whose operations I don’t understand,” she said.
Njeri wants the entire management dissolved and fresh elections conducted.
She accused the management of allowing farmers to become shareholders and rejecting farmers.
“For about five years now, farmers are called for meetings but cannot air their grievances because those who attempt to speak out are intimidated,” Njeri said.
“Some 26 members have been expelled from the co-operative society after interrogating the management on why the Sacco deductions are not receipted."