Cooperative societies in Vihiga County marked the International Day of Cooperatives, locally called the Ushirika day with with exhibitions showcasing savings, investment and financial services, even as leaders called on residents, especially the youth to embrace the cooperative movement for economic empowerment.
The celebrations, held at Ebusiratsi Church of God in Elukongo, Emuhaya Sub-county, brought together cooperative members, government officials, SACCO leaders and residents to highlight the role of cooperatives in promoting financial inclusion, entrepreneurship and sustainable community development.
The exhibition featured cooperative societies including Hazina SACCO, Invest Grow (IG) SACCO, Panel Gold SACCO, KUSCCO Housing SACCO, Bunyore Farmers’ Coffee Cooperative, Emuhaya Soya Cooperative SACCO, Vihiga Traders SACCO, Luanda Township SACCO and the Cooperative Insurance Company (CIC), which showcased a wide range of financial products and services.
Residents were taken through various savings plans, loan products, housing programmes, agricultural value-addition initiatives and insurance services aimed at improving household incomes and financial security.
Speaking during the event, the County Executive for Commerce, Tourism and cooperatives, Joseph Lunani, challenged young people to embrace cooperatives as platforms for entrepreneurship, innovation and job creation.
He urged the youth to form and register cooperative groups to enable them to access government empowerment programmes and affordable financing.
Lunani also lauded women-led cooperatives for empowering families through access to credit and business opportunities.
He encouraged farmers to work together through cooperatives to enhance production, improve quality and access better markets, noting that collective action gives members stronger bargaining 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,” he said.
Hazina SACCO Branch Official Emmanuel Oduori said cooperative societies continue to create employment opportunities, support farmers, promote entrepreneurship and expand access to affordable financial services.
Vihiga Traders SACCO representative Lona Busolo noted that cooperatives have transformed livelihoods by enabling members to pool resources, access affordable credit and invest in income-generating ventures.
She encouraged women and young people to join cooperative societies as a pathway to financial independence and sustainable development.
Joyce Mandela of Emuhaya Soya Cooperative Limited urged residents to cultivate a saving culture, saying regular savings enable members to access affordable loans for education, housing, farming and business expansion.
She described cooperatives as reliable vehicles for wealth creation and long-term financial security.
Bunyore Farmers’ Coffee Cooperative Chairman Bafalot Kinyanga encouraged coffee and soybean farmers to embrace collective marketing, value addition and modern farming practices to improve productivity and increase household incomes.
Housing cooperative representative Hellen Lusweti highlighted affordable home ownership programmes that enable members to gradually save and qualify for housing loans.
Meanwhile, CIC representative Vincent Okute educated participants on the importance of insurance in protecting businesses, farms, property and investments from unforeseen risks.
He said affordable insurance products tailored for farmers, traders and cooperative members play a key role in strengthening the cooperative movement and enhancing economic resilience.
African Leaf Vegetables Cooperative Chairman Washington Omukhago conducted financial literacy sessions, advising members to budget wisely, borrow responsibly and invest in productive ventures that generate income.
He noted that cooperative savings and loan facilities have enabled many families to expand businesses, educate their children and improve their standards of living.
Participants also used the event to network, exchange ideas and explore partnerships aimed at strengthening the cooperative movement in Vihiga County.
As the celebrations concluded, the participants reaffirmed their commitment to supporting cooperatives as key drivers of inclusive economic growth, poverty reduction and sustainable development, expressing optimism that stronger cooperative societies will continue improving livelihoods across the county.
by Henry Ananda
