Farmers protest high scale of corruption

BY ERASTUS MULWA

Controversy and mistrust between shareholders and officials is threatening to tear apart a multi-million co-operative society in Machakos County.

Wrangles pitting a section of shareholders of the giant Muka Mukuu Farmers’ Co-operative Society against the management committee sparked demonstrations across the farm last week.

Tension remained high in Donyo Sabuk as hundreds of shareholders stormed the farm protesting what they termed ‘high level corruption’ by the society’s sitting committee.

The irate members converged at the local market and marched to Kantara Farm, a 382-acre subsidiary section of the massive farm and divided the land into several plots after holding a brief session with their interim officials.

Led by their interim chairman Constantino Mutua, the demonstrators accused the committee of running the affairs of the farm without members’ blessings. The team is also accused of failing to account for proceeds of a parcel of land leased out to a private developer.

“The farm only serves selfish interests of the sitting officials who never account for proceeds generated through the lease contract,” said Mutua.

A combined force of armed security officers kept vigil as the charged demonstrators engaged area deputy OCS William Sifuna as they demanded the immediate withdrawal of another developer, Skakhon Holdings, who had reportedly been granted a lease on the farm for undisclosed number of years.

But addressing the Press later at the society’s offices, the administration manager, Peter Kyungu, scoffed at the demonstrators, saying they are not genuine shareholders.