By Boniface Mulu
Kitui County Trade, Co-operatives and Investment Minister Philip Mumo has said that the co-operatives are an important and efficient instrument to create wealth and fight poverty.
“They bring people together in a democratic and equal way and allow people to take control of their economic future,” the minister added.
Mumo said that in Kitui County, it is envisaged that the co-operatives will play a vital role in wealth creation as enumerated in Governor Charity Kaluki Ngilu’s five point manifesto.
He disclosed that currently there are 241 registered co-operative societies in Kitui County with more than 63,000 members.
Mumo was addressing to thousands of co-operators from Kitui County during this year’s 96th International Co-operatives Day celebrations held at the Kitui British American Tobacco (BAT) Ground in Kitui Town.
The theme of the event was “Sustainable consumption and production of goods and services”.
The Kitui County’s societies focus on saving and credit, housing, ranching, production and marketing, the minister said.
Mumo said that the county has identified several value chains among them the indigenous poultry, green grams, sorghum, honey, mangoes, beef, goat meat, ballast, textile, leather and leather products that he said if well promoted will lead to increased income at the household level.
