Retirees of the giant West Kenya sugar company limited are now calling for the ethics and anticorruption commission (EACC) to investigate the fleecing of the Ksh.88Million by the sacco.
The retirees allege that their efforts to have the sacco, which serves the miller employees, pay their retirement dues has failed in several occasions, prompting them to hire an independent auditor to go through both the sacco and miller books of accounts for accountability purposes.
They also called for the indulgence of the cooperatives cabinet secretary Wycliffe Oparanya in helping them get their hard earned dues.
“We have worked for West Kenya for many years and after retiring and being at home for over two years we are yet to receive our retirement monies and anytime we inquire they tell us that it is due to non-performing loans of which none of us have. We are asking to know who are these people who have taken loans amongst ourselves, because it looks that the Sacco is running away from paying us.
Retiree Jeremiah Murumba speaking to the press
They also pointed out that there concern has been heightened after the factory distanced itself from the Sacco and yet the Sacco services its employees with some of the officials alleged to have squandered the funds still employed by the same factory.
They quoted the figure of Ksh. 88,197,111 as the monies the West Kenya sugar company limited (WEKSCOL) Sacco owes them.
“We have arranged for a meeting on 11/11/24 at the Weko grounds where we have invited the investigations sleuths (EACC), governor, cooperatives minister, senator and the Kabras OCPD to come and listen to our woes as we have failed to be heard by the miller which is protecting the perpetrators,” uttered one of the retirees Jeremiah Murumba.
Simon Luka a west Kenya employee and among the union members
They said they were unable to fens for their families with many being unable to pay fees for their children at secondary and college levels.
“We want justice and we know who are culpable of our funds embezzling and we will name them during the meeting to enable the law take its course” he added.
However a report emanating from the West Kenya management distanced itself from the allegations pointing out that despite the Sacco bearing the same name as itself, there was no cooperation whatsoever and urged the retirees to follow the right channel in pursuing their dues.
As the management of West Kenya Sugar Company limited, we are distancing ourselves from the claims and want to direct the retirees to constitutionally follow the right channels of getting their benefits, department of communication reiterated
BY WAKHUNGU ANDANJE
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