The Mountain Journal
A giant coffee cooperative in Kiharu has elected a new management committee after the former snubbed two meetings convened by the Ministry of Cooperative.
Peter Gikonyo, made a comeback at the cooperative society after his election confirmation in February at Gachirago factory was delayed by the management committee led by Peter Kimwere.
Yesterday, Gikonyo said he was in charge of the operations at the society after the local cooperative officer John Nderu presided over his election at Mugeka chiefs camp on Friday last week.
“ The former committee snubbed the August 30 election and that of a special general meeting that was slated on September 6 where the members passed a vote of no confidence and replaced it,” said Gikonyo
As the camp allied to Gikonyo celebrated the ousted committee lodged a protest citing that the procedure followed by the office of the cooperative officer was against the law as the September 6 meeting had been postponed indefinitely.
The farmers said despite the petition lodged, the protestors were unable to quote cooperative rules broken.
The farmers, Gikonyo said are bitter over the mismanagement of the society and non-payment of the coffee warning the formers to stop using the sideshows seeking sympathy.
Led by Joyce Mwai, the farmers said the committee has been playing hide-and-seek games fearing being cornered on matters none non-payment for their coffee and leadership wrangles in the society.
Ms Mwai said on August 29, the society headquarters postponed the September 6 meeting which was a show of fear after the committee learned the farmers were ready to pass a vote of no confidence.
“ At first the meeting was postponed idefinately only for the ousted management plan for a meeting on September 27. Now we have a committee in place to revamp the society,” said Mwai.
Murang’a County Cooperative CEC Kimani Mugo said issue touching on the society is under investigation, after the former management failed to attend two meetings called by the director of cooperative.
“It is on record that on August 30 and September 6, the committee led by its chairman snubbed the meetings as the farmers resolved to elect a new management committee,” said Mugo.
