Muka Mukuu land row escalates as members allege illegal sales, asset plunder
A potentially explosive land dispute is unfolding at Muka Mukuu Farmers’ Co-operative Society in Machakos County, with thousands of shareholders alleging that portions of land around Mt Kilimambogo are being illegally sold even as parts of the mountain’s designated forest buffer zone are cleared for farming.
The allegations have opened a wider battle over control of the society, its vast land holdings and other assets, with members accusing the current management of presiding over the alleged disposal of property worth millions of shillings while failing to protect land reserved for shareholders.
The 2,616 shareholders now want the government to investigate the alleged land transactions and the management of the society’s assets.
They have also announced a special general meeting on October 3, 2026 at which they intend to elect a new management committee, arguing that previous attempts to force leadership changes through official channels have failed.
The dispute involves more than 6,400 acres bordering the Mt Kilimambogo buffer zone, which members say remains unallocated despite claims that parts of the land have already been occupied, cleared or offered to prospective buyers.
Peter Muasya, who is leading the members pushing for fresh elections, alleges that some individuals have invaded the area and that land buyers could lose their money if transactions are found to be irregular.
Former society management committee member Constantino Mutua warned that continued destruction of vegetation could have serious environmental consequences.
“This is going to cause serious soil erosion when it rains as the area reserved as a forest is on a slope of the mountain. The situation will be disastrous to the environment,” Mutua said.
He said Mt Kilimambogo forms part of more than 52,000 acres acquired by Muka Mukuu from a European settler for purposes of settling its members.
Members have accused the society’s officials of alleged misappropriation of funds, illegal disposal of assets and unauthorised mining of building stones from society quarries. They claim the alleged losses could exceed Sh250 million.
The accusations have also put officials in the Ministry of Co-operatives under scrutiny, with members alleging that their complaints have not received adequate action.
The society is facing an internal leadership crisis, with members accusing current officials of mismanagement and alleged plunder of society assets.
Muasya accused the management of allowing the alleged illegal sale of members’ land and mining of building stones from the society’s quarries.
“Muka Mukuu members are deeply concerned about the wanton plunder of society assets including the mining of building stones from the society’s quarries and illegal sale of land belonging to shareholders,” he said.
He further accused officials at the Ministry of Co-operatives of failing to act on members’ complaints and, allegedly, protecting the society’s management despite repeated concerns over disposal of assets.
Muasya said a July 3, 2026 resolution calling for fresh elections was allegedly ignored, prompting members to convene their own meeting.
The leadership dispute escalated on August 5, 2026 when members ejected the management committee led by Dominic Mutuku, accusing it of misappropriating funds and presiding over losses allegedly exceeding Sh250 million.
They subsequently installed Supervisory Committee Chairman Mutisya Mutevu as interim leader pending fresh elections.
