Youths in Lugari Sub County, in Kakamega County, have been advised to join Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) for socio-economic empowerment.
The Sub County Cooperatives Officer Hadley Mailu, made the appeal during the Muyuji Cooperative Society Annual General Meeting in the Marakusi location.
Mailu regretted that only a negligible number of the majority youthful population has embraced Saccos, despite the numerous economic empowerment opportunities they offer.
He said, “I would like to appeal to our youths to embrace and join cooperative societies. With the high scarcity of employment opportunities in the country, the future lies in cooperatives.
“By forming and joining cooperative societies, the youths can save together and borrow the savings later at lower interest rates to initiate income-generating opportunities.”
He said Saccos offer the best pathway to financial independence and entrepreneurship; hence, young people should embrace the culture of saving and collective investment.
Mailu urged members of the Muyuji Cooperative Society to embrace the National Agriculture Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), which is offering grants to small-scale farmers aimed at enabling them to transition from subsistence to commercial farming.
“I would like to encourage members of the society to be a part of the NAVCDP. This is a World Bank-funded project targeting smallholder farmers. Here in Kakamega, the project focuses on five value chains, which include avocado, banana, poultry, dairy, and apiculture.” He said.
Shadrack Wemali who represented the area’s Member of Parliament, Nabii Nabwera, encouraged residents of Marakusi to join Muyuji Cooperative Society in order to pull resources together for collective and individual growth.
He said the lawmaker has put in place strategies aimed at transforming Saccos within the constituency besides lobbying for support from private investors.
Muyuji Cooperative Society chair Cosmas Kidaha said the society will continue engaging in various income-generating activities for the sake of its members’ economic growth.
“At the moment we have saved over Sh.1.5 million, and we are looking forward to investing the funds into several income-generating activities that will transform our livelihoods. We have already invested in sugarcane and maize farming, and we expect better returns.”
By Melechezedeck Ejakait and Brenda Wabwire
