The Departmental Committee on Lands has put to task Ministry of Cooperatives officials in connection with the liquidated Drumvale Farmers Cooperative Society.
The parliamentarians questioned the Principal Secretary for Cooperative Development Patrick Kilemi on events leading to the liquidation of assets of the Machakos based Cooperative Society that saw members losing over 500 acres of prime land.
The Committee chaired by North Mugirango MP Joash Nyamoko is probing the alleged irregular liquidation of the Cooperative Society’s assets, leading to loss of the land situated in parts of Nairobi, Kangundo and Athi River.
Members of the cooperative society founded in 1963 petitioned the National Assembly in the quest to reclaim their land which they said has since been sold to third parties despite several attempts for recourse through the courts and relevant offices.
The MPs said the Ministry officials gave unsatisfactory responses to queries raised on the process leading to the liquidation of the cooperative society’s assets and claims that some Government officials could have benefitted from the alleged irregular process.
The committee members said it was callous for the ministry and its team to approach the matter in a manner that appeared lackluster owing to the suffering experienced by the original owners of the land, most of whom were elderly and sick.
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The PS noted that the issue around the Drumvale Land dispute continued to grow in complexity despite previous efforts to get to the bottom of the matter by several agencies.
“There is a problem at Drumvale. But I request that we look at it beyond the optics. Beyond the liquidator. It is a very complex issue. It is my pledge that we shall get as much information as possible,” the PS said.
MP Nyamoko directed that the PS and his team go back and prepare more comprehensive responses to the questions raised by the MPs.
“We are giving you 14 days PS and your team, and note that we expect you not to be just a conveyor belt, we expect to see better input in your response to help bring this matter to a close,” said Nyamoko.
At inception in 1963, the said co-operative society was founded for the purposes of bringing residents together through shares contributions towards buying land for subsequent subdivision.
The Sacco members had bought shares of KSh200 each, which was to total KSh8000, and was used to purchase land in the blocks currently located in Nairobi, Athi River and Kangundo.
The said land was later allegedly sold and is now occupied by different developers who have put up residential and commercial properties.
By Obegi Malack
By Sacco Review Reporter
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