- Malindi Handcraft Cooperative Society’s turnover nearly doubled to Ksh 44.99 million in 2025 from Ksh 24.52 million in 2024.
- The society, founded in 1986 by 30 members, reported higher assets and share capital, and plans to recruit more members to strengthen its capital base.
- Chairman Cosmas Kyalo cited poor marketing during low tourist seasons and a dilapidated showroom as key challenges, urging county support to rehabilitate the facility.
Malindi Handcraft Cooperative Society Limited nearly doubled its turnover to Ksh 44,985,710 in 2025, as the Kilifi County woodcarvers’ cooperative marks nearly four decades of growth from its original 30 founder members.
The marketing cooperative society was started in 1986 by 30 founder members and is currently situated at Muyeye area in Malindi township, opposite Malindi High School.
Speaking to Sacco Review recently at his office in Malindi township, the society’s Chairman, Cosmas Kyalo, said the 30 founder members came together to form the society with the sole objective of uplifting their living standards, after finding that their daily wages were not enough to fund their personal development projects.
He disclosed that the society’s turnover increased from Ksh 24,520,223 in 2024 to Ksh 44,985,710 in 2025. Its total assets rose from Ksh 6,186,298.20 in 2024 to Ksh 6,755,041.30 in 2025, while share capital increased from Ksh 3,794,945 to Ksh 4,002,126 over the same period.
READ ALSO:
Kyalo said the society has a showroom where woodcarvers display their products for sale to clients from different areas, including visiting tourists.
He said the society was declared the second-best in highest payment for members’ produce in the county by Cooperative Development Ministry, and was awarded a certificate during the county Ushirika Day celebrations held recently at Mariakani Vocational Training Centre (VTC).
“Despite challenges, the society has been progressing very well in terms of delivering quality services to members,” the chairman said.
He praised the founder members for their sacrifice in keeping the society stable and said it now intends to recruit more members to strengthen its capital base.
Kyalo said the society’s showroom is in poor condition and urged the county government to help rehabilitate it, to give members a more conducive working environment. He advised members to remain united to strengthen the society further.
“Our great challenge is marketing our products, especially during the low tourist season in the Malindi tourist resort town, because our main customers are international customers who visit the showroom to buy our products,” he added.
He called on Kenyans, particularly county residents, to cooperate fully and come forward to join the society as a way of uplifting their living standards.
By Tsozungu Kombe.
Get more stories from our website: Sacco Review.
For comments and clarifications, write to: Saccoreview@
Kindly follow us via our social media pages on Facebook: Sacco Review Newspaper for timely updates
Stay ahead of the pack! Grab the latest Sacco Review newspaper!
