By Andanje Wakhungu
Acquisition of land has been cited as a major impediment in the implementation of Malava Housing Cooperative Society housing scheme in Kakamega County.
According to Sacco chairman John Lumbatatia, the process of acquiring land has been so expensive making it difficult for the society to acquire and allocate parcels of land to its members.
He was addressing members during the 29th annual general meeting.
He noted that the procedure to get tittle deeds is tedious.
At the same time he revealed that correcting and transferring of ownership of already prepared land tittle deeds was taking long making it difficult for members willing to develop their plots do so.
Lumbatatia, who was accompanied by his vice Were Shimaka, Chief Executive Officer Resper Ngaira, Secretary Mary Obaire, chairperson supervisory committee Beatrice Mukopi and Treasurer Titus Andanje, said the society was making strides in ensuring that its members are allocated their plots.
“We have so far a membership of 719 out of which 409 are active. We shall soon be allocating 20 plots to members who have saved more than Sh 155, 000 with the Society,” he said.
On the proposed society plaza, Lumbatatia said that a total of Sh 2, 863, 800 had been raised as shares from members.
He said that the dream of constructing the society’s plaza at a tune of Sh 20 million was on course after getting the approval from the architectural and structural drawing department.
The Malava Plaza members unanimously agreed that each member be deducted Sh 8,000 from their shares to be paid towards the plaza so that each member of the society automatically becomes a member of the plaza.
The chairman, however, took issue with the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) for its failure to update the accounts of the Sacco members and instead been regularly been summoning him on the negativities happening in the Sacco.
Mukopi confirmed that the society has two parcels of land and the process of acquiring title deeds and subdivision was on going.
“The society has 15 plots that are under the name Malava Teachers out of which two are for the Plaza.”
She challenged more members to join the housing scheme and increase the number which stands at 521 since the inception of the society 30 years ago.
A board member in the Invest and Grow (IG) Sacco Richard Shilaro stated that Malava housing and IG have a common history of working together as teachers were the controllers of the economy in the country.
The Sub-county cooperative officer Monicah Aduke appreciated the members for their efforts to set up the plaza and advised them to reduce consumption and increase savings.
The society was ranked as the best managed housing co-operative in the entire county and was awarded with a trophy and certificate during the Ushirika day celebrations held at the county.
