Farmers affiliated with the Vihiga Dairy Cooperative Society have strongly opposed efforts by the Vihiga County Government to impose a new manager and accountant on the organization.
Tensions flared during a stormy meeting convened at the cooperative’s premises by county cooperative officials, who intended to brief members on the proposed leadership changes.
The session quickly descended into chaos as enraged farmers forcibly ejected the County Deputy Commissioner of Cooperatives Mr Alloise Andanda from the compound.
The farmers accused the official of acting under the influence of Mr. Francis Kisia, the County Commissioner of Cooperatives, whom they allege is deliberately sowing discord within the society to destabilize an institution that has been instrumental in supporting dairy farmers in the region.
They further stated that they would boycott a Special General Meeting convened by the Cooperatives Department on July 18th to discuss the findings of a recent probe report, dismissing the meeting as inconsequential to the affairs of the cooperative.
According to the farmers, the Cooperative’s Chief Executive Committee Member (CECM), Mr. Joseph Lunani, intends to use the meeting as a platform to install new management without the consent of the cooperative’s members.
Speaking on behalf of the farmers, the Cooperative’s Board of Management Chairman, Mr. Francis Imbuji said the CECM has writen to the board asking them to convene and receive the new manager and an accountant.
The chairman accused Mr. Kisia of attempting to unilaterally oust the current manager, Mr. Fred Atsiaya, without approval from the board or the wider membership.
“Today’s meeting was clearly orchestrated to introduce a new manager closely aligned with the County Commissioner of Cooperatives,” said Mr. Imbuji.
“I had to mobilize farmers to block this move because we have full confidence in Mr. Atsiaya’s leadership.”
Mr. Imbuji credited Mr. Atsiaya with reviving the cooperative, which had been on the brink of collapse due to mismanagement by former officials.
He explained that the previous leadership had looted the society’s resources and even took out a KSh 1.3 million loan using the cooperative’s pickup vehicle as collateral, leaving it at risk of being auctioned when the loan went unpaid.
“The current manager worked tirelessly to repay the loan and safeguard the vehicle,” Imbuji noted.
“Under his stewardship, daily milk collection rose from just 40 litres to 1,200 litres. How can such a manager be dismissed?”
The cooperative’s treasurer, Mrs. Caroline Monyo, added that the Commissioner of Cooperatives had frozen the society’s bank accounts, frustrating efforts to make timely payments to farmers.
“Governor Dr. Wilber Ottichilo had directed the release of KSh 200,000 to help the cooperative manage its financial challenges, but the Commissioner’s office imposed unrealistic conditions, making it nearly impossible to access the funds,” Monyo stated.
Farmers also lamented that interference from the Cooperative Department had led to the loss of two key donors.
They vowed to resist any efforts by county officials to undermine or dismantle the cooperative, which they described as a lifeline for local dairy producers.
Contacted Lunani and Kisia separately denied interfering with the operations of the cooperative.
“I have convened the special general meeting to inform the farmers if measures we have taken to deal with issues highlighted in the probe report….it is for their good,” said Mr Lunani.
