The Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSME Development, Wycliffe Oparanya, on 3rd June, 2026, presided over the official launch of the Budalangi Market Women SACCO, bringing together 79 registered women groups in a move set to deepen financial inclusion in the region.
The event saw KSh8.4 million disbursed to women groups to support enterprise development and improve household livelihoods, with the Uwezo Fund contributing KSh3 million of that amount in loan cheques to eligible beneficiary groups.
Speaking at the launch, Oparanya described the formation of the SACCO as a significant milestone for the women of Budalangi, who have for years practiced table banking as an informal savings mechanism. He said the new structured cooperative model would enable members to mobilize greater savings, access more affordable credit, and expand their businesses beyond what was possible under informal arrangements.
The Uwezo Fund’s KSh3 million contribution forms part of its continuing mandate to provide affordable credit to women, youth, and persons with disabilities seeking to establish, expand, or sustain viable enterprises. The remaining balance of the KSh8.4 million disbursed at the event was channelled directly to the women groups to support their business and livelihood needs.
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Oparanya commended the women of Budalangi for embracing a strong savings culture, noting that their use of table banking had laid the groundwork for the transition into a formal SACCO. He said organized groups and cooperatives remained key pillars of the Government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), and were playing a critical role in advancing financial inclusion, enterprise development, wealth creation, and employment opportunities at the grassroots level.
The Cabinet Secretary was joined at the launch by Busia Governor Dr. Paul Otuoma and members of Parliament from the region, led by the area MP, Raphael Wanjala, among other local leaders.
The launch of the Budalangi Market Women SACCO adds to a growing list of cooperative formations across the country as the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSME Development continues to push for the formalization of informal savings groups into structured financial institutions capable of accessing larger credit facilities and offering members stronger governance and oversight over their savings.
By Masaki Enock
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