By Wesley Ken.
Over the past three years, Kenya’s Matatu Transport industry, the dominant mode of transport of both passengers and goods in the country has undergone a tremendous overhaul. Management and operation of Public Service Vehicles is now in the hands of Transport Saccos.
The newly created National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) organ has guidelines and regulations requiring that critical evaluation be done on new entrants to the public transport sector prior to the issuance of an operating licence.
Crucial in the vetting process is the condition of the vehicle and the drivers conduct. This has seen Associations, Saccos and companies that operate their Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) as a pool, develop terms of service and codes of conduct for their owners and workers in a bid to transform the industry thus reducing road carnage.
It is in this regard that Kerugoya-based Kukena Sacco has remained unchallenged in providing one of the most effective and competitive transport services to the satisfaction of all stakeholders. Key among other factors that can be attributed to Sacco’s success is the timely and prompt feedback that the members have given the management.
Addressing members, Cooperative County Government officials and invited guests during the Sacco’s 18th Annual General Meeting, held on 26th April this year at Rosewam Hotel in Kerugoya, Jackson Mbuthia, the chairman to the Board of Directors praised the milestones the Sacco has made.
“I invite you to appraise the performance of our Sacco in the year 2016 and strategically set measures to manage the performance gaps for improved performance in the year 2017,” he said.
He further said that the Sacco will endeavour to work closely with the organs mandated to supervise Public Service Vehicles operations to triumphantly emerge more marketable.
Kukena Sacco’s close bond with these organs has seen it licensed to operate the Nairobi-Nakuru route. “I am quite aware of the teething challenges witnessed in the operation of this route. But certainly it is a milestone that cannot be underestimated,” he added.
In regard to the Saccos petrol station at Kerugoya town, Mbuthia said that the management has and will continue dedicating time and energy to its running; saying that there has been continuous audit of the procurement systems and selling process to ensure reasonable profits are realized.
The performance index of the Sacco’s main petrol station in Kerugoya and filling stations at Kagio and Kutus have not only provided for the aspect of taking service near to members but also brought measurable returns within the dynamics in the fuel industry.
“It is laudable that Kukena Sacco now celebrates its own petrol station at Kutus. Kindly, let us focus in this business by fuelling our vehicles from our petrol stators,” saying the fuel here is of guaranteed quality and that returns in profit will be shared as per the members’ consumption.
According to the Kukena Sacco Limited Annual Report and Financial Statements for the financial year ended December 31st 2016, the Sacco recorded a 19 per cent growth in membership.
Loans to members grew by 21.1 per cent, to Sh. 124.5 million in 2016 up from Sh 102.8 million in 2015.
