The Senate Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization and Tourism Chaired by Kajiado Senator, Lenku Ole Kanar Seki today met delegations from the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs led by the Principal Secretary Hon. Patrick Kilemi; and the Drumvale Farmers' Cooperative Society led by the Society's Chairman Mr. Felix Maingi to consider a Statement sought by Sen. Agnes Kavindu Muthama, regarding the liquidation of Drumvale Farmers’ Cooperative Society in Machakos County.

In her Statement, Senator Agnes Kavindu Muthama had requested the Ministry through the Senate to; Apprise the Senate on the status of the revocation Notice of Drumvale Farmers' Co-operative Society Limited as per Gazette Notice No. 8427 of 6th July 2022 to full registration. State the status of convening members of the said Society as directed to the Director of Cooperatives, Nairobi City County by the Commissioner for Cooperative Development in his letter dated 9th September 2022. Apprise the Senate on any malpractices noted in the liquidation process proposing disciplinary actions on the culpable officer. 

Following the Committee’s sitting held on 16th March 2023 where it was determined that the responses issued on the above statement by the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs was unsatisfactory, the Cabinet Secretary, Commissioner for Cooperatives Development and the liquidator were invited to the Committee to provide further information to the matters raised. 

After a lengthy discussion, the stakeholders both the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs and Drumvale Farmers' Cooperative Society were asked to provide a comprehensive report of the liquidation process and current status of the Drumvale Farmers' Cooperative Society in order to get answers to key issues that were left unanswered during today’s meeting. In addition, the Committee resolved to visit the Drumvale Farmers’ Cooperative Society site for further fact findings.

Present in the Committee were:

Sen. Esther Okenyuri-Vice Chairperson

Sen. Jackson Mandago-Member

Sen. Andrew Omtatah – Member

Sen. Betty Montet-Member 

Sen. William Cheptumo – friend of the Committee 

Sen. Agnes Kavindu Muthama - Statement author