Embezzlement: CS vows action against Kuscco staff

Co-operatives CS Wycliffe Oparanya addresses the media after receicing KUSCCO forensic report from KUSCCO Chairman David Mategwa and Group Managing Director Arnold Munene in Nairobi on November 21, 2024. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya has said that action will be taken against Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (Kuscco) officials over poor management of funds.

Oparanya made the remarks on Friday during the union’s general meeting in Nairobi, which brought together affiliate Saccos, where an audit report was unveiled.

For one year, PricewaterhouseCoopers was tasked with auditing Kuscco, and during the presentation of their report, they revealed that some Saccos cannot access their savings, amounting to millions of shillings.

Among them is Sheria Sacco, which is claiming about Sh126 million from the union. “What happened in Kuscco is mismanagement and theft. The culprits should be brought to book and dismissed with immediate effect,” Oparanya said, adding that the State would assist where it can.

The CS explained that while it was not the role of the government to police unions, it should have acted cautiously to avoid getting into trouble.

“It is not our role to police you. We come in a capacity-building, training, and technical aspect. We want a Sacco movement that is self-regulating,” Oparanya stated.

He added that there is already a bill before the Senate that will set clear structures for the running of unions and other service providers in the country.

Lady Justice Philomena Mwilu, who is the chair of Sheria Sacco, regretted that it was unfair for Kuscco to misappropriate the savings of hardworking Kenyans.

“I want to know how we got here without even noticing. We thought we were safe in their hands,” said Mwilu.

Mwilu added, “We don’t want to hear stories that do not end with.

‘‘Where is the Sh126 million of Sheria Sacco members?’’