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Former Co-Op Chiefs Told to Return Sh4m
Three former officials of a Kirinyaga coffee cooperative society have been ordered to repay Sh4 million they are said to have embezzled three years ago.
A cooperative tribunal sitting in Nyeri ruled that Mr Peter Muriuki, Mr Patrick Njogu and Mr Robert Gutu, formerly of the Baragwi society in Gichugu Division, be surcharged Sh3,978,994, plus interest and the cost of the suit.
They are among 29 former officials facing related charges before the tribunal over misappropriation of Sh18 million when they served the 14,000-member organisation.
Cases of 26 others are pending before the tribunal.
An inquiry ordered by the Registrar of Societies in October 2001 implicated the officials in its report, which was adopted by the members during an annual general meeting in January 2002.
The named officials did not appeal to the Cooperatives minister, and the society management filed a case seeking to recover the money.
When the case came up for hearing, the chairman of the five-member tribunal, Mr Charles Mbogo, noted that the defendants had admitted liability. He said their failure to appeal against the resolution had left the tribunal with no option but to order repayment.
Mr Mbogo gave them 30 days to appeal against the ruling.
Meanwhile, five Ford People MPs yesterday demanded action on the report of government investigations into alleged graft at the Gusii farmers' rural cooperative society.
They urged Ethics permanent secretary John Githongo to prosecute officials named in the financial irregularities.
"We have written to the PS and other anti-corruption agencies for action," said Mr Jimmy Angwenyi, Mr Henry Obwocha, Mr Geoffrey Masanya, Mr Stephen Manoti and Mr Omingo Magara.
The leaders also wanted the officials made to repay Sh7 million they were said to have misused.
The report was presented to farmers' representatives at the society offices last week. It was followed by dissolution of the board by the Commissioner of Cooperatives and an order for fresh elections within 20 days.
The commissioner barred the implicated committee members from contesting any office for the next 10 years.
Farmers are already campaigning as per the Commissioner's notice.
The Union's general Manager Mr Celestine Nyamumbo issued notices detailing where the elections will be conducted on March 15 in Nyamira, Kisii and Gucha districts.
The MPs also urged they local DC to stop a meeting organized by the out going team for march 17 saying if allowed it would cause unnecessary tension as the campaigns to elect new officials was in progress.
