Government gives guidance to aggrieved cooperative members

Chuka, Friday, May 12, 2023

KNA by Martin Munene

The government has stepped in to give guidance to members from a cooperative society from Tharaka Nithi who recently caused mayhem and disrupted their Annual General Meeting (AGM).  

Tharaka Nithi County Cooperatives Officer Daniel Kirigia disclosed that a new date has been set for fresh elections of the management committee for Muiru Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society after their May 5 AGM was disrupted by some disgruntled members.

“Fresh elections will be held on May 17, but it should be clearly noted that there are no term limits stipulated in the Cooperative Society’s Act, stating until when the management committee membership should serve or leave office,” Kirigia elaborated. 

The Cooperative Officer further stated that a co-operatives society which under its by-laws has power to borrow money, shall from time to time at a general meeting fix the maximum liability which it may incur in loans or deposits from non-members.

The disgruntled members had accused the management committee of crippling the society financially due to overwhelming loans that they acquired without consent from the members of the society as contained in the Co-operatives Societies’ Act, section 34 on limitation of borrowing powers. 

The management was further being accused of defaulting salaries of the workers at the factory and being in office for close to two decades besides nepotism hence degrading their produce.

The County Cooperatives Officer further stated that efforts to sensitize and mobilize the members of Muiru cooperative society to take part in the up- coming society’s elections on 17 may 2023 were currently ongoing. 

 Courtesy; K.N.A