Cooperatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya has held the inaugural meeting with interim officials of Tushirikiane DT Sacco, a newly formed financial institution that is expected to anchor economic transformation in Western Kenya.
The Sacco, launched earlier at Emabole, draws membership from Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, Vihiga, and Trans Nzoia counties. It has already registered about 10,000 members and is targeting 250,000 by the end of the year.
Oparanya described the institution as a “financial inclusion engine” designed to power the region’s economy by deepening access to affordable credit and supporting diverse value chains.
Coffee has been identified as the anchor value chain, with the Sacco also expected to unlock opportunities in agriculture, MSMEs, and professional sectors. Oparanya said the cooperative will facilitate industrialisation, agricultural transformation, and enterprise growth while offering tailored social security products such as education and health financing for members and their dependants.
“I am not launching this Sacco because I am the minister for Cooperatives and MSMEs. It is an independent institution since it has its own officials. I am only the vision carrier and chief promoter,” Oparanya said, adding that interim officials will immediately begin the registration process through county governments and the Commissioner for Co‑operatives.
RELATED:
Western Region moves to establish “Tushirikiane DT Sacco” to boost economic empowerment
The CS emphasised that training programmes for members will commence this month to highlight the benefits of cooperatives as a pathway out of poverty. He reiterated that cooperatives remain the most effective tool for community empowerment and urged residents to embrace collective economic activities.
Western Regional Commissioner Macharia Irungu welcomed the initiative, describing it as a government‑led effort to lift residents out of poverty. He said the cooperative model offers the fastest way to address challenges in education, health, and business development. National government administration officers will also assist in mobilising residents to register as members.
Oparanya has consistently encouraged diversification into coffee farming to reduce reliance on sugarcane and boost household incomes.
Oparanya noted that TuShirikiane DT Sacco will serve as a platform to optimise the region’s economic potential by linking financial inclusion with agricultural and industrial growth.
By Masaki Enock
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!
