- Kitui County marked the 104th International Co-operatives Day under the theme Co-operatives for a Peaceful World.
- The county now has 463 registered co-operatives with 136,675 members and a capital base of Ksh17.3 billion.
- Univision DT Sacco was named the overall best Sacco after winning three other top awards.
Kitui County marked the 32nd International Co-operatives Day in Kenya, recognized by the United Nations (UN), and the 104th International Co-operatives Day globally, under the theme “Co-operatives for a Peaceful World.”
The Kitui County Trade, Industry, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Innovation and Co-operatives Minister, Rose Mawia Mutuku, said co-operatives remained among the most important pillars of socio-economic development in Kenya.
“Millions of Kenyans rely on co-operatives for savings, affordable credit, agricultural marketing, housing development, investment opportunities and financial security,” the minister said. She addressed thousands of Kitui County’s co-operators who attended this year’s celebrations on Saturday, July 4, 2026, held at the Kitui British American Tobacco (BAT) Grounds in Kitui town.
Mutuku represented Kitui County Governor Dr. Julius Makau Malombe, the chief guest at the function. The event was organized by the Kitui County government in conjunction with the national government, the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) and the Co-operative Alliance of Kenya (CAK).
“The Saccos and other co-operative societies have become essential institutions in empowering the ordinary citizens in Kenya especially the farmers, small-scale traders, youth and women,” Mutuku said
Citing CAK data, she said the co-operative movement in Kenya comprises over 25,000 registered societies with 14 million members, contributing 30 to 45 percent of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Mutuku said the movement had mobilized over Ksh630 billion in savings, held an asset base of Ksh816 billion and had issued over Ksh558 billion in loans to members nationally.
The minister disclosed that Kitui County had 463 registered co-operative societies with a total membership of 136,675. Of these, 71 percent were savings and credit co-operative societies, 26 percent producer and marketing co-operatives, 1.2 percent ranching co-operatives, 0.9 percent housing co-operatives and one percent a consumer co-operative, she said. The movement employed 482 workers in the county, she added.
The minister said that on ascending to power in 2022, Malombe committed to facilitating the registration of co-operatives in the county per sector, including honey producers, tailoring and garment making and hide and skins and charcoal producers.
He also pledged to train and strengthen co-operative societies through self-regulation, administrative guidelines and application of information technology, and to support the revival of dormant co-operatives through partnerships and capacity building in management, finance access, production and marketing.
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Malombe further committed to helping co-operatives expand their value chains, adopt modern technology and participate in exchange visits with co-operatives in other jurisdictions. She said the governor had revived 31 dormant co-operatives in the county, with their management capacity strengthened through training. Membership had increased from 82,972 to 136,675 and the capital base had grown from Ksh8 billion to Ksh17.3 billion, since 2022.
“From 2022 to date, the Kitui County’s Department of Co-operatives has registered 100 new co-operatives and a total of 202 co-operatives, and over 12,000 members have been trained on value addition and advised on self-regulation in internal operations, administration and application of information technology,” Mutuku said.
Mutuku invited residents to the Kitui Agricultural Show, Trade and Investment Expo (KASTIE) 2026, scheduled for September 24 to 26 this year. She was accompanied by Kitui County Trade, Industry and Co-operatives Chief Officer Paul Ngei Monyi, among other officials from her ministry.
Addressing the occasion, Univision DT Savings and Credit Co-operative Society Limited Treasurer, Simon Muema Munyoki, urged Kitui County’s co-operators to remain active for their own good and for the good of the local people. He said the Sacco offers motor vehicle and boda boda insurance cover.
Munyoki, who also chairs the CAK’s Kitui County chapter and the Kitui County Co-operative Committee, and is a teacher by profession, said Univision DT Sacco’s asset base had hit over Ksh14 billion.
“We as the Saccos are able to change. We can bring peace to our country Kenya. We can bring peace in Kenya during the country’s coming general elections. The Saccos can bring a lot of peace. We are talking of peace. We must create peace. I want the peace to start at your home,” Munyoki said. He thanked the Kitui County government for supporting the Saccos.
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During the function, Kitui County’s best Saccos were awarded certificates and trophies. Kwa Vonza Boda Boda Sacco was the first to hold its 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM), followed by Univision DT Sacco and Kamaki Farmers Sacco.
Univision DT Sacco was named best urban Sacco, ahead of South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) Sacco. Bestrock Sacco won best rural Sacco, followed by Kaliku Women Star Sacco and Kyoani Women Sacco. Wikililye Boda Boda Sacco was named best boda boda Sacco, ahead of Kwa Vonza Boda Boda Sacco, while Kimuto Women Sacco won best women’s Sacco, followed by Kaliku Women Star Sacco and Matinyani Women Sacco.
Kinatwa Sacco was named best matatu Sacco, ahead of Kinathi Sacco. Kitui Teachers Housing Co-operative Society Limited was named most resilient Sacco, followed by Kitui Farmers Housing Co-operative Society Limited and Mutomo Farmers Sacco. In a separate resilience category, Wikwatyo Women Sacco placed first, ahead of Banana Consumers Women Sacco.
Univision DT Sacco also won best Sacco in market penetration, ahead of Bestrock Sacco, and best Sacco in technology adoption, ahead of Bestrock Sacco and Kamaki Farmers Sacco. Univision DT Sacco emerged the overall best Sacco.
By Boniface Mulu
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