Kenya’s Bunge la Mwananchi has issued a petition to President Dr. William Ruto, urging him to dissolve the current leadership of New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (New KCC) over allegations of corruption. At a press briefing in Nairobi, Bunge la Mwananchi President Francis Owino accused the New KCC board, chairperson, and CEO of engaging in unethical practices and failing to uphold farmers’ interests.
Owino criticized the leadership for prioritizing self-interest over service. “We are very much disappointed with the current leaders at New KCC. How can they do business with the company while in office? That is a clear conflict of interest,” he said.
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He expressed concerns that New KCC has deviated from its predecessor’s mission, the Old KCC, which prioritized the welfare of farmers. Among the allegations are claims that the CEO has personally secured transportation contracts, raising questions about tendering integrity.
Owino called on the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to investigate the parastatal thoroughly. “This is the time to investigate parastatals like New KCC. The entire system needs an audit, especially to determine how tenders are being awarded,” he stated.
The activist leader also demanded an independent audit of New KCC’s operations since its rebranding, arguing that transparency and accountability are crucial to restoring public trust.
Bunge la Mwananchi warned that failure to address these issues could lead to nationwide demonstrations, underscoring the urgency of the matter. These demands come amid broader calls for improved governance in Kenya’s parastatals to ensure they serve the public effectively and uphold farmers’ livelihoods.
