Kiambu County reaffirmed its position as one of Kenya’s leading cooperative hubs as thousands of members, leaders and officials gathered at Ndumberi Stadium to mark the 104th International Day of Cooperatives, locally known as Ushirika Day.
The celebrations, held under the global theme “Cooperatives for a Peaceful World,” highlighted the role of cooperative societies in promoting economic empowerment, social cohesion and sustainable development.
Governor Dr. Kimani Wamatangi, in a speech delivered by Chief Officer for Cooperatives Peter Ndegwa, praised the county’s cooperative movement for transforming livelihoods and strengthening communities through collective enterprise.
Wamatangi described cooperatives as institutions founded on trust, democratic participation and shared responsibility, enabling members to pool resources, reduce risks, improve productivity and access markets that would otherwise remain beyond reach. He revealed that Kiambu has more than 917 registered cooperatives, of which 444 are active, serving over 703,945 members. Collectively, they generate an annual turnover exceeding KSh22 billion and maintain a share capital of more than KSh6.6 billion.
The Governor noted that cooperative savings in Kiambu have grown from KSh81.6 billion to KSh109.49 billion, attributing the increase to financial discipline, resilient societies and growing public trust. He highlighted investments in strengthening agricultural value chains, particularly coffee and dairy. Coffee production recently reached 10.8 million kilograms, generating gross sales of over KSh1 billion, while dairy cooperatives produced 146 million litres of milk, earning KSh11.7 billion in gross sales, with more than KSh6.8 billion paid directly to farmers.
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To improve efficiency and returns, the county has installed 114 metallic coffee drying beds, upgraded security infrastructure at Komothai Coffee Cooperative Society, and equipped dairy cooperatives with milk coolers, pasteurizers, milk ATMs and digital weighing scales. Wamatangi also recognized the boda boda sector, noting that his administration had disbursed KSh30 million through a revolving fund to cooperatives and organized groups across all 60 wards.
He urged cooperative directors and management committees to uphold transparency, accountability and prudent financial management, stressing that members entrust their savings with expectations of honest leadership.
“Members entrust their savings and investments to elected leaders with the expectation that these resources will be managed honestly and professionally. Transparent leadership strengthens confidence, attracts new membership and secures the long-term sustainability of cooperative societies,” he said.
County Director of Cooperatives Janet Githendu welcomed delegates and commended officers for their dedication, while Kiambu County Cooperative Association (KCCA) Chairman James Waweru described Ushirika Day as a celebration of the global cooperative movement. Reading the International Cooperative Alliance message, Waweru emphasized that cooperatives are not merely economic institutions but powerful drivers of peace, social cohesion and sustainable development.
He noted that Kiambu’s cooperative sector comprises five pillars; Saccos, transport, dairy, housing and marketing cooperatives collectively generating about KSh1 billion in business every month. Despite impressive performance, he acknowledged challenges such as limited access to affordable financing, regulatory constraints, declining yields and rising production costs. He urged leaders to convene regular forums beyond annual celebrations to address these issues and accelerate growth.
The colourful event concluded with leaders urging members to strengthen unity, uphold integrity and continue embracing the cooperative model as a pathway to inclusive economic growth, peaceful coexistence and sustainable prosperity for future generations.
By Felix Wanderi
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