Dairy farmers in Maara Sub-county are seeking government intervention to revive the collapsed Wega Milk Cooperative Society after years of legal battles, leadership wrangles and mounting debts estimated at more than Sh83 million.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Deputy County Commissioner’s grounds in Marima, farmers, clergy, youth leaders and Njuri Ncheke elders appealed to Maara Member of Parliament Kareke Mbiuki to help secure Sh280 million from the National Government to restore operations at the once-thriving milk processing plant.
The Cooperative, which was established to support dairy farmers in the region, ceased operations in 2024 after financial challenges linked to a court case filed by Brookside Dairy over breach of contract.
According to interim committee chairman Paul Ngai, the problems began after the management allegedly created divisions among farmers through irregular milk measurements, theft of milk cans and tampering with milk quality.
“The disputes weakened the leadership and farmers started forming private milk collection centres. Many farmers later shifted to other processors such as Brookside and Daima,” said Ngai.
He said the Cooperative later signed a contract with Muthiru Cooperative Society, prompting Brookside to sue the society for breach of contract after milk deliveries stopped.
“Brookside won the case and the Cooperative now owes the company about Sh50 million,” he added.
The interim committee further accused the former management of failing to address the crisis, leading to declining milk production and eventual collapse of the processing plant.
Interim committee secretary Mary Muthoni said the society had more than 8,000 active members and collected over 22,000 litres of milk daily at its peak before operations deteriorated.
She noted that key equipment including milk coolers, generators and milk tankers had become dysfunctional, crippling operations.
“We are hopeful that the National Government will support us so that the factory becomes operational again,” she said.
MP Mbiuki called for a comprehensive external audit report before any government funding can be processed.
“We need a clear audit report explaining how the debt accumulated. Everything must be verifiable before it is presented to the government,” said Mbiuki.
He added that the audit would help establish accountability and determine whether there was any misappropriation of funds by former officials.
The legislator pledged to lobby the National Government to support the revival plan despite the financial year budget process nearing completion in Parliament.
Mbiuki said reviving the cooperative would strengthen the region’s economy by enabling farmers to independently process and market milk products instead of relying on external processors.
He noted that value addition through production of products such as yoghurt, butter and ghee would create employment opportunities for youth and help reduce crime in the area.
By Dickson Mwiti and Beatrice Mwende
