- Young people have been urged to form and register cooperative groups so they can tap into government empowerment programmes and access affordable financing.
- Cooperatives have transformed livelihoods by enabling members to pool resources, secure affordable credit and invest in income-generating ventures
Cooperative leaders used this year’s International Day of Cooperatives, marked locally as Ushirika Day, to challenge young people in Vihiga County to join the cooperative movement, arguing that organized groups offer the surest path to entrepreneurship, job creation and long-term financial security.
Speaking during the event, County Executive for Commerce, Tourism and Cooperatives Joseph Lunani, urged young people to form and register cooperative groups so they can tap into government empowerment programmes and access affordable financing. He said cooperatives remained one of the most effective platforms for entrepreneurship, innovation and job creation among the youth.
Lunani also praised women-led cooperatives for empowering families through improved access to credit and business opportunities, and called on farmers to organize themselves into cooperatives to boost production, raise quality standards and secure better markets. He argued that collective bargaining gives members stronger negotiating power and better returns for their produce.
“The county government remains committed to strengthening the cooperative sector through sound policies, capacity building and support programmes that will enable cooperatives to thrive and contribute to national development,” Lunani said.
Several cooperative leaders used the platform to make the case for deeper community participation in the movement. Hazina SACCO branch official Emmanuel Oduori said cooperative societies have continued to generate employment, support farmers, promote entrepreneurship and widen access to affordable financial services within the county.
Vihiga Traders SACCO representative Lona Busolo said cooperatives have transformed livelihoods by enabling members to pool resources, secure affordable credit and invest in income-generating ventures, and urged more women and young people to join cooperative societies as a route to financial independence.
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Joyce Mandela of Emuhaya Soya Cooperative Limited called on residents to build a stronger saving culture, noting that consistent savings allow members to access affordable loans for education, housing, farming and business expansion. She described cooperatives as dependable vehicles for wealth creation and long-term financial stability.
On agriculture, Bunyore Farmers’ Coffee Cooperative chairman Bafalot Kinyanga urged coffee and soybean farmers to embrace collective marketing, value addition and modern farming techniques to raise productivity and household incomes. Housing cooperative representative Hellen Lusweti highlighted affordable homeownership programmes that allow members to save gradually and eventually qualify for housing loans.
Beyond the formal proceedings, participants used the event to network, exchange ideas and explore partnerships aimed at deepening the cooperative movement across Vihiga County.
By Masaki Enock
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