Members of Eco Pillar Sacco held a peaceful procession from Makutano Town to the West Pokot County Assembly to protest alleged mismanagement and theft of Sacco funds belonging mainly to teachers.
The protest expressed frustration over difficulties in accessing loans despite years of savings contributions.
Some members also raised concerns over claims that loans had allegedly been issued to deceased persons while genuine members were denied financial assistance.
Speaking during the demonstrations, Geoffrey Doywan, the Chairman for Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) in West Pokot County, said the union was standing in solidarity with teachers whose savings had allegedly been stolen.
He said teachers are suffering financially, with some unable to pay school fees, buy land, or meet family needs because of the loss of their savings.
Doywan stated that teachers had remained silent for a long time but had now reached their limit.
He accused individuals linked to the Sacco scandal of intimidating members to prevent them from speaking out.
“We want those responsible to be arrested and jailed, teachers sacrificed their hard-earned money to save in the Sacco for development and educating their children, but some officials are now enjoying those funds while teachers continue to suffer,” he said.
He warned that demonstrations marked only the beginning of further action if the money was not returned.
Dorcas Cheyech Lotome, branch executive secretary of the Kenya Union of Teachers (KNUT) West Pokot, said the union would not relent until teachers recovered their savings.
She noted that the money deposited in the Sacco was directly deducted from teachers’ paychecks and condemned any misuse of the funds.
Lotome called on all individuals involved in the alleged fraud to surrender the money voluntarily, saying teachers deserved peace and financial security.
“We cannot allow teachers to continue crying instead of focusing on teaching learners in schools. The teachers’ money must be returned immediately,” she said.
Sacco member David Tiamale narrated his experience, saying he had faithfully saved with the Sacco hoping to access affordable loans.
However, he claimed that when he applied for a loan, he was denied and forced to seek financial help from a bank.
He further alleged that he later discovered that his deceased father, who died in 2010, had reportedly been allocated a loan in 2022.
“It is shocking that my deceased father was given a loan while I, who is alive, was denied one,” he lamented, adding that he had planned to use the money to purchase land.
Protesters are now demanding investigations into the alleged fraud and immediate action against those responsible for the loss of members’ savings.
Another protestor, Salina Lodeng’o, alleges that a senior official at the West Pokot County Assembly is to blame for the loss of their money, noting that he was once a senior official of the Sacco. She claimed there were allegations of mismanagement of funds during his tenure and added the financial problems they are currently facing may be linked to his actions.
By Anthony Melly
