By Collins Akong’o
The Cooperatives Alliance of Kenya Chief Executive Officer Daniel Marube has called on the government to speed up ratification of the national policy on cooperative development.
Speaking in Mombasa during Ushirika Day celebration, Marube said a standardized national policy on activities of cooperative societies will spur growth across the 47 counties.
He noted that the operationalization of the national policy to guide the sector will ensure harmony in the coordination of cooperative programmes in the country as opposed to the current scenario where each devolved unit is coming up with own regulations and rules.
“We hope that such a unified policy relating to the formation, registration and regulation of cooperative societies will eliminate the existence of pyramid schemes that fleece members,” he said.
“We are asking the relevant authorities to expedite the formation of a national cooperative development policy that guarantees the growth of the sector.”
He expressed regrets that pyramid like entities masquerading as Saccos were giving the cooperative movement a bad name besides fleecing the public of their savings.
The unionist said the cooperative societies in the country cut across the key economic sectors including finance and housing.
Marube at the same time said the Sacco movement is paying a heavy price for failure by counties, public agencies and to remit workers monthly contributions.
He pointed out Mombasa County Government owes cooperatives more than Sh100 million.
On his part, Mombasa Deputy Governor Dr. William Kingi expressed willingness to remit the workers monthly contributions.
He asked Saccos to partner with the county government in the provision of affordable and descent housing for the middle and lower income segments of the population.
