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{
    "id": 1359299,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1359299/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 144,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Molo, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Kuria Kimani",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Hon. Speaker, I rise to give the following Statement under Standing Order 44(2)(b) regarding a matter handled by the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning. On or around 9th October 2023, the Committee received complaints from several Kenyans who are members of the Safaricom Investment Co-operative, who alleged that the SACCO had duped them into investing in a non-existent affordable housing scheme in Migaa, Kiambu. One of the complainants, Ms Maryanne Njoki, is a Kenyan who works in Saudi Arabia and is a member of the Safaricom Investment Co-operative. She accuses the Co-operative of involvement in fraudulent activities. She averred that in 2020, she paid a sum of Ksh1,598,000 to purchase a two-bedroom unit under the affordable housing project within Migaa Golf Estate in Kiambu County. Ms Maryanne Njoki claimed that despite making payments through the advice of Safaricom Investment Co-operative, no housing units were being developed or on sale within Migaa Golf Estate in Kiambu County. Subsequently, in line with the mandate of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning, and as captured in the Second Schedule of the National Assembly Standing Orders, the Committee invited the Commissioner of Co-operatives and the management of Safaricom Investment Co-operative to respond to the said allegations on 16th October 2023. Section 3 of the Co-operatives Act, 2012, creates the Office of the Commissioner of Co-operatives, whose responsibility is to oversee the growth and development of co-operative societies by providing such services as may be required by co-operative societies for the organisation, registration, operation, advancement, dissolution and administration of the provisions of that Act. On Thursday, 2nd November 2023, the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning held meetings with the Commissioner of Co-operatives and the management of Safaricom Investment Co-operative. Arising from those meetings, the Committee noted that sometime in 2010, Sycamore Pine Limited initiated the development of Samara Estate. The development was under the Affordable Housing Programme and is located on 18.9 acres of land within Migaa Golf Estate in Kiambu County. Upon completion, the project would constitute 1,200 two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments. A two-bedroom unit would cost Ksh2.95 million, while a three-bedroom unit would cost Ksh3.95 million. Safaricom Investment Co-operative partnered with Sycamore Pine Limited to market and sell the apartments on behalf of the developers to prospective purchasers. Safaricom Investment Co-operative was to sell the property off-plan at a commission of 4.5 per cent of the sale price. Further, once a buyer was identified, they would sign purchase agreements with Sycamore Pine Limited and directly deposit funds in the developer's account. Eight Kenyans paid deposits of between Ksh790,000 and Ksh1,598,000 as deposit for purchase of the said land. I do not want to read their names. The project stalled after residents of the neighbouring Migaa Integrated Golf Estate opposed the construction of the high-rise apartments within their neighbourhood. Consequently, the residents filed a court case reference Environment and Land The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}