Leaders of major Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (Saccos) are calling for heightened unity, strict governance and strategic market cooperation to secure members’ wealth and drive sustainable economic growth.
Speaking during the 104th Ushirika Day celebrations held at the Gusii Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union (GCFCU) in Kisii Central, regional industry leaders emphasized that market expansion should complement, rather than disrupt, the core spirit of the cooperative movement.
Wakenya Pamoja Sacco Chief Executive Officer Isaac Omwenga noted that no single society holds a monopoly over financial services, urging institutions to embrace healthy market dynamics as they expand across county borders.
“Let us offer our services maturely without engaging in counterproductive rivalry,” Omwenga says. “There is immense work to be done. Saccos entering the Gusii region from the outside complement local services, and we must work together to foster the cooperative movement.”
Omwenga pointed to Wakenya Pamoja Sacco’s digital transition, noting that its 182-member workforce now serves more than 148,000 members through an open-bond system, offering tailored mobile banking products designed for women and youth.
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Gusii Mwalimu Sacco CEO Jared Moenga echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that cooperation among cooperatives remains a foundational pillar of the sector. Originally established exclusively for teachers, the tier-one Sacco has opened its bond to the general public to broaden its socio-economic impact.
“Societies supplement each other by mobilizing deposits and providing credit facilities to uplift lives,” Moenga stated. “Let us maintain peace as we conduct business. There is enough room for every player in this market.”
Kenya Achievers Sacco CEO Robert Ntabo challenged cooperative managers to strictly uphold prudent governance protocols to safeguard member funds. Ntabo also dismissed recent media reports alleging that the national government intends to siphon Sacco savings into infrastructure projects, labelling the claims as alarmist.
“We do not want our members to be startled by negative press. Members’ savings are entirely secure, and there is absolutely no cause for alarm,” said Ntabo, whose institution boasts a membership exceeding 80,000.
On the agricultural front, GCFCU Chairman Peter Onsinyo raised concerns over a spike in coffee theft across processing factories, driven by high global market prices for the commodity.
“The rampant theft of coffee beans from societies is a worrying trend that leads to heavy losses and fuels conflict between farmers and management,” Onsinyo warned, appealing to society officials to fortify factory infrastructure, including proper fencing, to secure deliveries.
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In a speech read on his behalf by Water and Environment Executive Committee Member Cyrus Nyabicha, Kisii County Governor Simba Arati underscored the role cooperatives play in driving the local economy. Governor Arati challenged Saccos to design tailored financial products that align with key agricultural value chains, including coffee, tea, avocados, pyrethrum, bananas, dairy and fisheries, as well as the affordable housing sector.
“Saccos have a multi-billion shilling capital base built entirely on the trust of their members,” Arati notes. “I urge managements to maintain tight financial controls to elevate these institutions further.”
The county administration also announced an ongoing soil-testing exercise aimed at optimizing crop yields, while urging cooperators to champion climate-smart agriculture and environmental conservation to cushion the regional economy against climate shocks.
By Emmanuel Gwakoi
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