Ushuru SACCO CEO William Pudha, receives an award from Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, during the 103rd Ushirika Day celebrations held at the KICC, Nairobi, on July 12, 2025/HANDOUT
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has reaffirmed the
government’s commitment to revitalising Kenya’s economy through a robust and
empowered cooperative movement, placing the sector at the heart of national
transformation
Speaking at the 103rd Ushirika Day and International
Cooperative Day celebrations held at the Kenyatta International Convention
Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Mudavadi emphasised the critical role of cooperatives
in implementing the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
He highlighted strategic focus areas under BETA—including
revitalising agriculture, expanding access to healthcare and affordable
housing, empowering MSMEs, and boosting digital and creative economies—stating
that cooperatives will serve as key drivers in these initiatives.
“A strong cooperative movement is essential for sustainable
development and economic inclusivity. Through the Cooperative Bill No. 7 of
2024, we aim to enhance transparency, governance, and inclusivity, particularly
by engaging our youth and women in leadership,” said Mudavadi.
Currently before the Senate, the Cooperative Bill 2024 is
poised to usher in a new era of cooperative governance.
Mudavadi also announced
plans to review the SACCO Societies Act, promising tighter oversight and
improved accountability to rebuild public trust in SACCOs.
The government, he noted, has engaged local and
international experts to guide the reform process.
Among the major financial
interventions highlighted were the Sh4.75 billion Coffee Cherry Advance Fund
and a Sh6.8 billion debt waiver targeting distressed coffee cooperatives.
Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development
Wycliffe Oparanya echoed Mudavadi’s sentiments, praising Kenya’s more than
30,000 active cooperatives for their significant contributions to agriculture,
housing, healthcare, and financial inclusion.
Oparanya outlined a raft of reforms, including the proposed
Cooperatives Bill, amendments to the SACCO Societies Act, and the establishment
of a Deposit Guarantee Fund, a Central Liquidity Fund, and a national shared
digital platform.
“Digital transformation, enhanced governance, and
inclusivity are the cornerstones of a sustainable cooperative sector. We must
embrace diversity and innovation, and that starts with greater participation of
our youth and women,” he said.
The event, themed “Cooperatives: Driving Inclusive and
Sustainable Solutions for a Better World,” drew thousands of cooperators,
policymakers, and development partners who gathered to celebrate the progress
and potential of Kenya’s cooperative movement.
Among the day’s standout recognitions was Ushuru Sacco,
honoured as one of the top-performing Tier 1 SACCOs in the country.
CEO William
Pudha lauded the Sacco’s transformation from a customs-based cooperative into
an open-bond institution now serving over 10,200 members.
“Our flexible monthly contributions starting at Sh1,000 and
competitive loan rates between 1 per cent and 1.25 per cent have allowed us to
remain member-focused while achieving sustainable growth,” Pudha said.
FINNLEMM Sacco also received top honors in the
non-deposit-taking SACCO category under Sh5 billion in assets. Chairperson
George Kamau Rugu shared the Sacco’s four-decade journey from serving staff of
diplomatic missions and NGOs to becoming a thriving cooperative with assets
surpassing Sh2 billion and over 3,700 members.
“Our success has been driven by strong member support,
innovation through technology, and continuous learning. We are now preparing to
transition into a deposit-taking Sacco to broaden our product offerings and
deepen financial inclusion,” Kamau revealed.