Astorm is brewing within Afya Sacco as furious members demand accountability for a staggering Ksh2 billion they allege has vanished under the nose of senior officials.
In a bold ultimatum, thousands of members—mainly health professionals across Kenya—have given the Sacco leadership seven days to provide answers or face massive street protests.
“We are tired of silence and deception. Our money is missing, and our cries have fallen on deaf ears,” said one visibly agitated member during a press briefing in Nairobi.
The accusations are damning: embezzlement, misappropriation and gross negligence by the Sacco’s top brass—including the chairperson, chief accountants and senior managers. Members allege that the officials looted and diverted funds without any accountability, while urgent calls for transparency have been ignored.
“Several attempts have been made to the Ministry of Cooperatives and the Sacco Society Regulatory Authority to address these vices, but no concrete action has been taken to stop the vice or restore sanity, and that is why we have resolved to this route,” the members stated in a signed petition.
Their frustration is not just about missing money—it’s about human lives. Members say some chronically ill individuals have been denied access to their own savings, while others wishing to withdraw their funds for personal needs face unexplained delays, despite a 60-day withdrawal policy set in place.
“People are suffering. Some of our colleagues can’t afford medication or basic needs because they can’t access their hard-earned money. It’s inhumane,” said a nurse who has been a member of Afya Sacco for over 15 years.
The situation has been further aggravated by allegations that salary deductions in form of shares have been stopped, effectively barring members from withdrawing or resigning from the cooperative—an act members argue is unconstitutional.
Dividends for the year 2024 also remain unpaid, raising red flags over whether the Sacco is financially solvent or if funds have been siphoned off. According to the Cooperatives Act and Sacco bylaws, members are entitled to timely payouts and annual dividends, which have not been honored.
Afya Sacco, once seen as a reliable financial institution for healthcare workers, is now under the microscope as allegations of stalled audits, questionable transactions, and governance breakdowns pile up.
This controversy comes hot on the heels of the KUSCCO scandal, where over Ksh13.3 billion reportedly disappeared due to poor governance and fraudulent dealings, further deepening public skepticism about the safety of Sacco investments in Kenya.
Attempts to reach officials at Afya Sacco and the Ministry of Cooperatives, led by CS Wycliffe Oparanya, were unsuccessful. Members claim the Ministry has continually ignored their pleas for intervention.
With tensions rising and patience wearing thin, members are warning that silence is no longer an option.
“This is our money. This is our future. We will not sit back while it’s stolen from us,” another member said, vowing to mobilize colleagues for protests if no response is issued within the week.
As the clock ticks down on the ultimatum, the fate of Afya Sacco—and the billions allegedly lost—remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: the members are no longer willing to suffer in silence.
By Linah Towett
