Primary Coffee Cooperative Societies’ officials in Sameta Sub County in Kisii County have been challenged to embrace supervisory committees to oversee their activities on behalf of the members.
Bobasi Sub County Cooperative Deputy Commissioner, Samuel Maranga Matonda has tipped coffee farmers on the need to have supervisory committees in place to check the management committees on their behalf, to ensure members' funds are used accountably by the boards.
Speaking at Nyamonya Main Farmers’ Co-operative Society, Nyakegogi Shopping Centre, Giasaiga Sub location during the society's special general meeting, Matonda regretted that coffee cooperative societies without supervisory committees lacked transparency and accountability in the running of the members' activities due to lack of oversight supposed to be offered by the supervisory committees.
"I have been surprised that some of the coffee cooperative societies in my jurisdiction are run only by the management boards. The law provides that each coffee cooperative society or union must have the supervisory committee to check the management on behalf of the members," stated Matonda
He reminded cooperative officials to be accountable to the members and ensure they display all information regarding coffee sales and marketing on their notice boards to avert speculations and rumours among members on the sales and ultimate payments to the members.