The cooperative movement in Kenya is witnessing a massive digital upheaval thus all stakeholders must look it as an opportunity to revolutionize the industry and not as a challenge to cooperative business.
Patrick Kilemi, Principal Secretary for Cooperatives who represented the Chief Guest, Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Co-operatives and MSMEs Development, Wycliffe A. Oparanya, in officiating the Second Co-operative Movement Stakeholders’ Annual Conference and the 10th Platform Cooperativism Consortium Conference 2024 at the Sarova Whitesands in Mombasa, categorically challenged the Co-operative University of Kenya to strengthen research for sector growth through data-driven insights and envision a future where cooperatives fully adopt digital transformation.
The Principal Secretary noted that more than 400 million of Africa’s population utilize the internet and more than 600 million people in the continent have access to smartphones hence making it ultimately needful to infuse digital technologies into the co-operatives to unlock the economic potential of Kenya, Africa, and the globe.
“Digital transformation is essential for the realization of the African Union Agenda 2063, and ensuring that co-operative movements are digitized and digitalized is a key milestone worth exploring,” Kilemi said during the international cooperative stakeholders’ forum.
Traditional co-operative models are being challenged by the ever-evolving digital environment. He urged the delegates, participants, and stakeholders in the co-operative movement to take the lead in realizing the future of Kenya and the continent by making viable deliberations and resolutions of the Joint Co-operative Conference 2024.
Cooperative Commissioner David Obonyo advised all cooperative players to uphold the cooperative values declaring, “This is the only way to ensure individual cooperatives especially from the Sacco sector, remain sustainable.” Concern for the community is key to survival and ensuring safe environment for the business to thrive. He urged cooperators to advise programs which align to the carbon credit which seeks to reduce the amount of carbon emanating from human business activities.
As the business landscape moves to digital space, Obonyo cited that the government is devising ways to enable all cooperative related data is accessible via a centralised digital system to ensure seamless coordination. He, however, warned cooperative leaders to be aware of the challenges that come with acquisition of digital systems including the rate at which some of them are rendered obsolete.
Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA) CEO Peter Njuguna announced that measures are in place to help Saccos undergo digital transformation in accordance with data protection policy. SASRA is working closely with officials from the government and other stakeholders in streamlining important aspects of the 2024 Cooperative Bill.
The Bill underscores the importance of technology in this evolution. The cooperative movement has made significant strides in adopting digital technologies to enhance efficiency, expand market access, promote financial inclusion, and foster sustainable development.
Hon. Victor Oyegoke, the Representative of the Hon. Minister of State for Agriculture & Food Security, Federal Republic of Nigeria expressed that the theme of the conference resonates deeply with Nigeria’s vision for agricultural development and recognizes the critical role of digital technologies in enhancing productivity, improving market access, and promoting inclusive growth.
Speaking during a plenary session at the event, Hon. Oyegoke outlined that Africa’s co-operative movement has been a cornerstone of economic development.
“I firmly believe that platform co-operatives can unlock new opportunities for our communities,” he said.
Prof. Isaac Nyamongo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, ACDRI, ascertained that the carefully curated thematic areas of discussion in the Joint Co-operative Conference 2024 brought about insightful deliberations on digital transformation in the co-operative sector and related economies. He affirmed that the inclusion of youths and women in the co-operative movement requires a paradigm shift towards digitization and digitalization of the entire co-operative business model.
The conference, themed “Digital Africa Rising”, which ran from 4th November to 8th November brought together 350 delegates and cooperative experts from across 33 countries to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and strategies, encouraging collaboration and innovation to shape a collective digital future.
