Farmers associated with the Vihiga Dairy Cooperative Society have expressed strong opposition to the Vihiga County Government’s attempts to impose new managerial and accounting personnel upon their organization.
This contention escalated during a meeting held at the cooperative’s premises, convened by county cooperative officials with the stated aim of briefing members on proposed leadership transitions.
The session rapidly deteriorated into disorder, culminating in the forcible removal of Alloise Andanda, the County Deputy Commissioner of Cooperatives, from the premises by irate farmers who accused him of operating under the influence of Francis Kisia, the County Commissioner of Cooperatives, alleging that Kisia is deliberately fomenting disunity within the society to undermine an institution vital to the region’s dairy farmers.
Furthermore, the farmers have declared their intention to boycott a Special General Meeting scheduled for July 18th by the Cooperatives Department, deeming the meeting irrelevant to the cooperative’s affairs and asserting that Joseph Lunani, the Cooperative’s Chief Executive Committee Member (CECM), intends to utilize it to install new management without the consent of the cooperative’s members.
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Francis Imbuji, Chairman of the Cooperative’s Board of Management, stated that the CECM had formally requested the board to convene and accept the new manager and accountant. Imbuji accused Kisia of attempting to unilaterally remove the current manager, Fred Atsiaya, without the requisite approval from the board or the general membership.
“Today’s meeting was clearly orchestrated to introduce a new manager closely aligned with the County Commissioner of Cooperatives,” Imbuji remarke.
“I had to mobilize farmers to block this move because we have full confidence in Atsiaya’s leadership.” He added
Imbuji credited Atsiaya with the cooperative’s revival, citing its precarious state due to alleged mismanagement by former officials, who reportedly embezzled resources and secured a Ksh 1.3 million loan using the cooperative’s pickup vehicle as collateral, risking its auction.
“The current manager worked tirelessly to repay the loan and safeguard the vehicle,” Imbuji noted, highlighting that under his stewardship, daily milk collection rose from just 40 litres to 1,200 litres. “How can such a manager be dismissed?” Imbuji questioned
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Caroline Monyo, the cooperative’s treasurer, further stated that the Commissioner of Cooperatives had frozen the society’s bank accounts, impeding 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 elaborated
Farmers also lamented that departmental interference had resulted in the loss of two key donors. They have pledged to resist all efforts by county officials to undermine or dismantle the cooperative, which they consider a vital resource for local dairy producers. When approached for comment, both Lunani and Kisia denied any interference in the cooperative’s operations.
“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.” stated Lunani.
By Cornelius Korir
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