Cooperatives in Mombasa County are gearing up towards becoming the most progressive within the cooperative movement in Kenya. The cooperatives, through the Mombasa County Cooperative Development Committee (MCCDC) have made a significant step in ensuring unity among saccos and have used this unity in bringing a positive impact to the underprivileged in the society.
In a speech to sacco representatives during the MCCDC annual general meeting, Alice Jowi the MCCDC chairlady noted that the number of saccos contributing towards the Cooperative Social Responsibility (CSR) had greatly increased, terming the move as a good gesture towards social development.
The cooperatives’ contributions towards cooperative movement for the year ended December 2023 amounted to a total sum of ksh. 1.81 million from ksh. 1.36 million in the year 2022. MCCDC also recorded a total of Ksh 3.19 million in revenue, an acceleration from ksh. 2.65 million in 2022.
The cooperative social responsibility, a social empowerment scheme by member saccos in the MCCDC has been paying school fees to needy students and offering humanitarian support to students with Special Needs in different schools within Mombasa County.
Participation by individual saccos in the CSR eventually put the sacco sector in the county on the national map. The chairlady, however, showed a little discontent to a few saccos who do not either contribute or are yet to join the MCCDC, citing it as a threat to development of the cooperative movement in the county.
”I hereby call upon societies that do not participate in these activities to make an effort and walk with others because if you want to move far you have no otherwise but to oblige and go with others,” she warned.
She emphasized the need to keep close coordination between saccos and institutions such as CIC group, cooperative bank, and KUSCCO saying such institutions will ensure future continuity of the cooperative movement in the country- a vision of those who set them up.
In a rare criticism to SASRA, however, the chairlady decried what she termed as micro management of saccos by SASRA, a deviation of its core mandate of regulating SACCOs. She accused the sacco regulatory body of being ‘devoid of cooperative leadership.”
”We need to wake up or else we are simply in trouble,” She lamented. She in addition advised the county cooperative office to hire more officers to help in the cooperative movement activities, citing a shortage of the officers in the county.
The MCCDC annual general meeting was also graced by the Mombasa County cooperative director, Mr. Nelson Nyoro, who emphasized on the importance of the meeting. He said it was important to check on the accountability of MCCDC leadership after being elected for more than a year.
It is also an opportunity to plan for activities ahead, including the International Cooperative Day, commonly known in Kenya as Ushirika day. Nyoro congratulated saccos in the county for conducting activities without necessarily being supported by the government.
”We have understood the value of self-help, Kujisimamia, ni Kujitegemea,” he said. He assured cooperatives of his commitment to supporting them at any time and place, promising to meet with grassroots chamas to help them, and enable them grow to fully-fledged and registered saccos.
The MCCDC annual general meeting concluded by driving home a clear message to every sacco within Mombasa County: unity, accountability, and self-reliance are the cornerstones of the cooperative movement in Mombasa County. With unwavering dedication and support from both leadership and members, the vision of a progressive and inclusive cooperative society is within reach.
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