Keiyo Co-operative Society members up in arms over Ksh500M property

By , K24 Digital
On Fri, 30 Sep, 2022 11:54 | 2 mins read
A section of the over 3,000 members of the Keiyo Co-operative Society at the Chepkorio Show Ground where they demanded the removal of their chairman Titus Korir over embezzlement of funds claims. PHOTO/ James Gitaka

Over 3,000 members of Keiyo Co-operative Society are asking the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) as well as the sleuths from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to immediately arrest the former chairman of the society’s committee Titus Korir for what they term as embezzlement of millions of shillings belonging to the society.

The members, who on Thursday, September 28 voted overwhelmingly for the removal of Korir and his committee, have accused the leadership of hatching a plot to demolish one of the society’s assets worth Ksh500 million and situated within the Eldoret Central Business District.

“We have no faith in their leadership. They engaged a private developer to demolish one of our storey buildings within the CBD they did not inform the members about that agreement.

"They went ahead to acquire a Ksh8.4 million loan without the knowledge of the members and they continued to embezzle our monies that’s why we have elected a new leadership led by John Chemagut," Abraham Yator, a member, said.

Society's new chair speaks

The building under dispute. PHOTO/James Gitaka

The new chairman has promised to carry out an audit of the society’s bank accounts and investments while promising to put to a halt any plans that could lead to the demolition of the Trokadero, one-storey building in Eldoret CBD.

“I want to thank the members for electing m. We will conduct an audit of the cooperative society’s bank accounts and other assets. The former leadership was involved in fraudulent activities while colluding with certain cooperative officers. Their term of service lapsed last year and hence have been operating illegally," Chemagut said.

However, in a rejoinder, the embattled chairman Korir has dismissed the election of new leaders stating that he was in office legally and that there has been no embezzlement of the society’s money.

“I am still the chairman and my team is still in office legally. We have had a few members who have been disrupting our meeting purporting to be the new leaders. We have reported them to the relevant authorities and we will continue to do our duties as stipulated by law,“ Korir said.

The society was founded in 1956 by farmers who previously engaged in the business of selling milk and pyrethrum.

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