Past Kenya Planters’ Co-operative Union directors back after elections
What you need to know:
- Some of the old directors returned to the board are Mr Kimanthi Mutuerandu, Mr Kiongo wa Njuguna, Mr Fred Kirubi, Mr Simon Mwangi, Mr John Mokaya and Mr Wachira Mwago.
- Some farmers on Tuesday expressed fears that the row over the disputed elections will scuttle payment of Sh130 million arrears.
Most of the past directors of troubled Kenya Planters’ Co-operative Union are back to the firm through elections called by the Ministry of Industrialisation and Enterprise, and which were boycotted by the board elected last year.
Some of those voted were barred from contesting elections by Parliamentary committee on Agriculture led by Mr John Mututho in a report adopted by the house in 2012 over mismanagement on the union.
This introduces a new twist to the disputed elections which have left two sets of directors, some recognised through the registrar of companies and others by registrar of societies threatening to scuttle revival of the union that recently came out of receivership.
RAN AN AD
Some of the old directors returned to the board are Mr Kimanthi Mutuerandu, Mr Kiongo wa Njuguna, Mr Fred Kirubi, Mr Simon Mwangi, Mr John Mokaya and Mr Wachira Mwago. On Tuesday, they ran an ad in Daily Nation saying they were bona fide and transactions should only be conducted by them.
The current board led by Mr William Gatei, however, said they did not recognise the elections as they were called with ulterior motives just when the union had secured funds to pay farmers’ arrears noting their tenure was yet to expire. (READ: KPCU directors ‘stage coup’)
“We are a company and we shall continue to discharge our mandate to the farmers until we complete our mandate. We have pulled the union out of receivership and now want to roll out our marketing model that will empower farmers in determining payment for their coffee,” he said.
Some farmers on Tuesday expressed fears that the row over the disputed elections will scuttle payment of Sh130 million arrears.
“We are owed Sh10 million for coffee delivered in 2008 and were hopeful that this will be settled as promised during the special general meeting held on July 30. We are concerned that these elections have returned many of past officials who failed the union. It is doubtful that we shall be paid,” chairman of Kiruhiu Utheri Coffee Society Ndun’gu Gatuhi said.
