Laikipia County Government has disbursed more than KSh100 million to local cooperatives through its Cooperative Revolving Fund, a facility now credited with driving value addition of farm produce and lifting incomes for members across the county.
Speaking during the 104th Ushirika Day celebrations, governor Joshua Irungu revealed that the fund has expanded fivefold from an initial KSh20 million to its current KSh100 million. He attributed the growth to improved management of the kitty and a strong culture of loan repayment among beneficiary cooperatives.
Beyond boosting farmgate earnings, the fund has become a vehicle for wealth creation and job generation in the county, with young people emerging as some of the biggest beneficiaries of the cooperative-based ventures it supports.
Governor Irungu said Laikipia boasts of over 256 cooperative societies which are central to the county’s economic growth, touching nearly every major value chain in the region, he commended the cooperatives role in delivering government programmes such as subsidized artificial insemination, fertilizer distribution, agricultural extension services and the Food Systems Resilience Project.
“In Laikipia, cooperatives continue to drive growth across key value chains including dairy, livestock, coffee, apiculture, cereals, potatoes, beans, poultry, pig farming and avocado production,” he said.
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He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the sector further, pledging continued investment in market access and value addition initiatives.
“My administration remains committed to strengthening the cooperative movement by creating an enabling environment for growth, improving market access, enhancing value addition and empowering our communities to build a resilient, peaceful and prosperous Laikipia,” Irungu added.
Cooperative leaders were reminded to remain compliant with the regulations set by the Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA), with officials warning that non-adherence could expose affected SACCOs to the risk of deregistration.
By Masaki Enock
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