By James Gitaka
Over 3,000 members of Keiyo Cooperative Society are demanding the arrest of their former chairman Titus Korir.
The members want the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) as well as the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to immediately arrest the former chairman.
They accuse him of embezzlement of millions of shillings belonging to the society.
On Sunday, the members voted overwhelmingly for the removal of Korir and his committee, accusing them of hatching a plot to demolish one of the society’s assets worth half a billion shilling.
The asset, a commercial building, is situated within the Eldoret Town Central Business District (CBD).
“We have no faith in their leadership. They engaged a private developer to demolish one of our story buildings within the CBD and they did not inform the members about that agreement. They went ahead to acquire an 8.4 million loan without the knowledge of the members and they continue to embezzle our monies. That’s why we have elected a new leadership led by John Chemagut,” said Abraham Yator, a member of the Keiyo Cooperative Society.
New leadership
The new Chairman has now promised to carry out an audit of the society’s bank accounts and investments. He has also pledged to put to a halt any plans that could lead to the demolition of the ‘Trokadero’ one-story building worth Ksh0.5 billion.
“I want to thank the members for electing me. We will conduct an audit of the cooperative society’s bank accounts and other assets the former leadership were involved in fraudulent activities while colluding with certain cooperative officers. Their term of service lapsed last year and hence have been operating illegally,” said Chemagut.
Legally in office
But the embattled chairman has dismissed the election of new leaders stating that he was in office legally and that there has been no embezzlement of the Keiyo society’s monies.
He said the matter has been reported at the Kaptarakwa Police station for investigation over what he claimed was incitement from a few members.
“I am still the chairman and my team is still in office legally. We have had a few members who have been disrupting our meeting purporting to be the new leaders. We have reported them to the relevant authorities and we will continue to dispense our duties as stipulated by law,” said Korir.
The Keiyo cooperative society was founded in 1956 by farmers who previously engaged in the business of selling milk and pyrethrum.
Later, they bought multimillion assets in Eldoret Town and the Burnt Forest area.
