The International Day of Cooperatives Day is always a special occasion to celebrate the remarkable impact of cooperative enterprise and pay tribute to those that have changed countless lives and created shared prosperity in communities.
And with Kenya boasting the largest movement in Africa, the eventful day, which Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies (Saccos) look forward to with enthusiasm, did not disappoint.
The 101st Ushirika Day celebrations on July1 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi saw Saccos bag different prizes for excellent performance under various categories.
The evening gala that marks the climax of the celebrations awards outstanding societies that have excelled in their various lines of business, and also serves as a benchmark for good corporate governance.
The adjudication process is conducted by the Co-operative Alliance of Kenya (CAK).
President William Ruto presided over the celebrations themed: “Cooperatives: Partners for Accelerated Sustainable Development,” having assigned the sector a full-fledged ministry to help achieve the Kenya Kwanza administration’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
The awards, in form of trophies and certificates, are given to societies that excel in eight categories: Best Managed in Kenya, Best Capitalization, Best Savings Management, Best Credit Management, Most Efficient, Best in Risk Management, Best in Technology Optimization, and Most Improved Sacco.
A total of 229 awards were gifted to 76 Saccos.
Kenya National Police DT Sacco scooped first position as Best Managed DT Sacco countrywide; followed by United Nations DT Sacco and Co-operative Bank Sacco.
Bingwa Sacco took first position in the Best in Capitalization category, with Muki Sacco coming in second followed by Ports DT Sacco.
The category of Best in Deposits (savings) Management had Shelloyes Regulated Non-Withdrawable DT Sacco at first position, Co-operative Bank Sacco at second and Kenpipe Sacco taking third position.
Under Best in Credit Management category, Simba Chai Sacco emerged first in deposit-taking sub-category, while Co-operative Bank Sacco was at first position countrywide as Best Credit Management under non-withdrawable deposit-taking (NWDT) Saccos. Ng’arisha Sacco took second position as Tabasamu Sacco emerged third.
Equity Sacco, Ukaguzi and Co-operative Bank Sacco were awarded as Most Efficient Saccos at first, second and third positions countrywide respectively.
Mentor, Mwalimu National and Yetu Saccos were awarded as Best in Risk Management countrywide at first, second and third positions respectively, with Safaricom Sacco, United Nations DT and Stima Saccos being crowned the Best Saccos in Technology Optimization nationally at first, second and third positions respectively.
Most Improved Saccos countrywide were Karura Community Sacco, Shofco Sacco and Kenya USA Diaspora Sacco.
Generally, the top 10 Saccos taking home the highest number of awards presided over by Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Co-operatives and MSMEs Development Simon Chelugui were led by Tabasamu Sacco with eight trophies.
United Nation DT Sacco and Co-operative Bank Sacco bagged seven each, as Kenya Highlands Sacco, Kenpipe Sacco, Jamii Yetu Sacco and Simba Chai Sacco all hit six awards.
The Kenya National Police DT Sacco, Ufanisi DT Sacco and Ports DT Sacco all won five awards.
Other senior government officials present at the award ceremony included Principal Secretary (PS) in the State Department for Co-operatives Patrick Kilemi and Commissioner for Co-operatives David Obonyo, who graced the recognition of positions 11 to 20 and 21 to 30 respectively.
By Roy Hezron
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