Members of a Sacco identified as Prevailing Sacco stormed the Cicada hotel in Eldoret town on Tuesday demand their money back.
Allegedly, the Sacco’s officials were meeting when the more than 3,000 members drawn from Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia and Nakuru counties complained that since they started saving with the Sacco, they have never been allowed to take loans despite their numerous applications.
“I have saved 30,000 shillings with the Sacco but when I wanted a loan, they told me that I cannot be allowed any money until I buy shares. I bought shares worth three thousand shillings and asked for the loan form where I was told to wait until the fifteenth of this month. On coming on the given date, I was told that loan applications had been closed till the twenty first of next month,” said Lillian Wakhungu.
Others claim that they were issued with fake cheques when they asked for loans.
“The field teacher has continuously told us that we do not need to have shares to get a loan but when one of us went to apply for one, he was told to buy shares first. He eventually bought them and applied for a loan where he was issued with a fake cheque,” Brian Atigara said.
Efforts to talk with the Sacco manager were cut short by the angry members who demanded to know where their money was.
“They were told what is required and they agreed to it. I do not know what else they want,” the manager who refused to give her name said amidst jeers and booing.
It took the efforts of the police officers to rescue the officials from the angry members who had held them captive for hours.