Change of guard at the troubled Kangunu farmers cooperative society 

The Mountain Journal

After the spirited efforts by coffee farmers to tame their rogue leadership at the troubled Kangunu Cooperative Society  without success, the government cracked a whip and dissolved its management  committee.

It was celebrated as the thousands of coffee farmers witnessed the Cooperative Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya suspending  the management committee.

 In a meeting,  the farmers recounted their tribulations that included forced contribution  of five percent of their coffee proceeds to high level mismanagement of resources.

“ I order the management committee of Kangunu Farmers Cooperative Society in Mathioya, Murang’a to step aside  following claims of embezzlement of coffee farmers resources and mismanagement. I appoint an interim  committee that will be in charge of the society  for 14 days when fresh elections will be held,” ordered the CS.

 The CS visited the society headquarters following last week's incident where the ‘criminals’ attended a farmers meeting only to be accorded police escort as the farmers faced  the wrath.

 The bitter CS  asked the Mathioya  security committee  to be humane when dealing with the elderly  saying the incident raised a lot of issues. 

Also 26 coffee farmers, who had been expelled over questioning the management, were reinstated.

Presence of the CS saw hundreds of the farmers attending the meeting without fear as the gangs which had been previously used by the ousted management could not been traced.