- Kenyan co-operative leader elected to a new global role
- Election brings Africa into the alliance’s global leadership
- New role builds on his leadership within the regional movement
Kenyan veteran cooperator Macloud Malonza has been elected Vice President of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) Global Board, marking a major milestone for Africa’s cooperative movement.
The vote took place on September 16, 2026, during the ICA General Assembly at the Panama Convention Centre in Panama City, where global delegates gathered to elect the alliance’s governing leadership for the upcoming term.
Malonza chairs the Co-operative Alliance of Kenya (CAK) and Co-op Holdings Co-operative Society Ltd, and serves as Vice Chairman of the Co-operative Bank of Kenya. His new role sees him directly represent the ICA-Africa region on the ICA Global Board, sitting alongside re-elected ICA President Ariel Guarco and regional Vice Presidents from the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe.
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Following the win, CAK issued a statement celebrating the achievement, calling Malonza’s elevation a monumental recognition of Kenya’s vibrant cooperative model and its leadership role across the continent.
According to CAK, having a Kenyan at the helm of global cooperative decision-making will amplify Africa’s voice on international economic policy, sustainable development and financial inclusion.
Malonza’s global election builds on an earlier victory this year, when he was elected President of ICA-Africa. In his dual role leading ICA-Africa while sitting on the Global Board, he has committed to advancing several regional priorities.
These include expanding agricultural value addition, deepening inter-African cooperative trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and growing youth employment and digital innovation within financial cooperatives.
With 116 voting entities representing 193 member organisations worldwide taking part in the Assembly, Malonza’s election cements Kenya’s standing as an influential force within the global cooperative movement.
By Benedict Aoya
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