By Munene Maina
High rate of gambling is affecting members’ savings trend in many saving and credit co-operatives countrywide.
CIC Insurance Group Chief Executive Officer, Tom Gitogo said the ongoing inquiry into gambling licences is analysing whether the ban on gaming on credit needs to be stricter to combat over indebtedness as a result of gaming and lotteries.
Recently the Ministry of Interior and Security has been conducting a crackdown of gambling machines. Gitogo’s remarks were contained in a speech read on his behalf by Henry Njerenga, a manager with CIC, during Kirinyaga County Ushirika Day celebrations.
The theme for the year was ‘Sustainable consumption and production.’ He urged co-operatives to be in the frontline in the push to ensure their products are designed in way that facilitates recycling or look for ways of recycling unwanted material after production.
The CEO said co-operatives should focus in increasing knowledge and deepening co-operation, encouraging sustainable ways of consuming and streamlining resource use. “As co-operatives we should support the Government in manufacturing, promoting universal healthcare, providing affordable housing and ensuring there is food security,” he said.
County Ushirika Council Chairman Hesbon Mwangi noted poor road network and pests were affecting co-operatives’ operations in the county.
He said the youth were also reluctant to join co-operatives and called upon the County Government to help societies improve on value addition.
