Members of a women’s self-help group have rebuilt a house they demolished to punish a member for defaulting on a loan.
Police ordered them to rebuild the house.
Twenty Star of Hope Self Help Group members from Rukira village of Embu West destroyed Getrude Gichuku’s property on September 3.
Her daughter Josephine Wawira had failed to pay the Sh10,000 August monthly instalment for a Sh300,000 loan.
Gichuku had offered her household goods and other property as collateral. Wawira had already paid back Sh200,000.
The women demolished a two-bedroom house with a cement floor, pit latrine and a poultry shed. They took away household goods and a cow.
Eight of the women were arrested and held at Itabua police station where they pledged to rebuild the house and other demolished structures.
Police said they allowed the women to fulfil their promise, but said they would be rearrested and charged with destruction of the property if they did not.
The women had guaranteed Wawira the loan at the Kenya Women Finance Trust Bank, where they have deposited their savings.
They had allegedly contributed cash to pay the instalment for her and when she did not pay them, they decided to destroy the property.
