The County Government of Kisumu has rolled out an ambitious programme aimed at revamping the ailing cooperative sector in the region.
Speaking during the International Cooperatives Day held at the Young Men’s Christian Association Grounds, County Executive Committee Member in charge of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Farida Salim said her department intends to meet all stakeholders within the movement in order to roll out a workable formula.
She noted that the cooperative sector in the region has been quite dormant and concerted efforts from all stakeholders are needed to make it vibrant again.
“The movement can only stay afloat if vital sectors such as commerce, fisheries and farming are also vibrant,” she noted, further urging women to take the lead in joining cooperatives and Saccos.
She lamented that some cooperatives are bedeviled by wrangles among officials hence the decision by the county government to organize capacity building programmes and trainings for members and officials.
Salim lauded the national government for recognizing the role played by cooperatives in the socio economic development of the country.
Miriam Awili, a director in the department of cooperatives, lamented that the county has 440 cooperatives yet only a few are vibrant.
She also lamented that women are ill represented in the sector and urged them to take up leadership roles in their cooperatives
During the event, Keystone Sacco, CIC and Cooperative Bank were among the institutions feted for exemplary service delivery to members and the corporate world.
By Fredrick Odiero
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