Written by Protus Simiyu 2012-05-11 10:10:00 Read 628 Times

Members of the Bungoma Teachers Sacco -BUTCO, owners of Tourist Hotel in Bungoma town have appealed to the Minister for Cooperative Societies Joseph Nyagah to intervene and resolve wrangles at the Sacco.

The Bungoma West KNUT Secretary General Fred Sichanji said the current wrangles between the management of the Sacco and the former tenant are worrying members with some threatening to quit and join other Saccos.

He said there is need for the indulgence of the minister since the former tenant was evicted from the hotel after failing to pay rent to teachers with arrears amounting to Sh.6 Million.

But on the other hand, the former tenant Dr. Reginalda Wanyonyi argued that she used millions of money to renovate the hotel thus needed more time to remain in the hotel so that she can recover her money without paying rent.

In addition members say that the former tenant had no right to continue operating the premises in pretence of recovering her money since the rent was meant to be shared among members as dividends at the end of every financial year.

Mr.Sichangi said the Sacco have more than 4,000 members with majority of them having retired and a good number of others already dead.

“This premise was supposed to act as an income generating avenue to members through dividends, but persistent wrangles have denied members what rightly belongs to them,’’ Sichangi said.

He said there is lack of political will on the side of elected leaders to assist teachers safeguard their property while revealing that a politician in Bungoma County is ready to purchase the premises should it be auctioned.

“As teachers, we want to tell this politician that we will not allow teachers property to be auctioned and that the hotel is there to stay,’’ Sichangi charged.

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