Court Bars KPCU Parallel Directors

In his orders, Justice Weldon Korir also barred a group of newly elected directors who are backed by the ministry from assuming office until a case filed by the current KPCU board is heard and determined.

It is feared that the tussle between the current board and the ministry could stall efforts to stabilise the once prosperous coffee co-operative which fell into receivership in October 2009.

Last Thursday, the high court barred the commissioner of co-operatives and the Industrialisation Cabinet Secretary from conducting a special general meeting to endorse a new board of directors for KPCU.

Those orders were extended on Monday through an order issued by Justice Weldon Korir.

KPCU through its lawyer Gakoi Maina argued that the new directors were elected in a disputed election conducted by the ministry of industrialisation without the consent of the current board.

Gakoi further told the court that the newly elected directors stormed KPCU’s premises and forcefully ejected the current board in disregard of the earlier court order.

A move, KPCU’s board contends, is making it difficult for the sitting board to successfully manage the union.

The warring parties are expected back in court on the 4th of September, 2014 for further direction.

By Maureen  Murimi and Stephen Gitau