The cooperative movement in Migori County has not been as vibrant as expected, with the few societies that have been in existence for decades struggling to stay afloat.
Records from the cooperative offices in Migori indicate that the region has over 400 registered cooperative societies but less than 100 are actively operational.
Ministry of Trade, Cooperatives and Tourism within the County, however, assures of its unwavering support towards the growth and development of cooperative groups within the region
“This County has formulated the County Cooperative Policy paper that aims at supporting cooperative members adequately,” confirms the County director of co-operatives Mr. Justus Nyangwecha. The policy works towards addressing issues of development, new registration of cooperatives, cooperative culture among county citizens and to promote a vibrant cooperative structure.
Nyangwecha also indicates that the policy strives to incorporate technological advancements and innovations and streamlines the scope in the agricultural and mining sectors that are the backbone of the County.
“There are different forms of cooperative groups that we deal with and that include housing, consumer, producer, marketing, farmers, credit, agriculture and services, all of which are geared towards improving the lives of the people, “he elaborated.
But many of such entities in Migori operate as Savings and Credit Cooperative (Sacco) societies, with the obligation to provide financial services to members, typically through savings, loans, and other financial products.Some like the Migori Teachers Cooperative (MITECO) have, however, been dogged with mismanagement problems, forcing many members to look for other vibrant societies to join outside the county.
Likewise, the Migori Teachers Cooperative Education Fund (MITCEF), which until recently was in good shape, has been hit with corruption cases that have now torn apart its central management and sent fears among members who now want to leave after millions of shillings were reportedly stolen from the society’s kitty.
Mr. Nyangwecha said cooperatives are good for protecting the interests of small producers, bringing people to work jointly and thereby enjoy the benefits of large-scale farming, creating markets and fixing good prices for goods and agricultural products, providing financial support to members through loans at reasonable interest rates, among many other services.
Even though the region has recorded a substantial increase in the number of cooperative entities, the sector still faces many challenges, according to the official. Many people do not fully understand how cooperatives work, especially about savings, borrowing and leadership.
“Some leaders are not well trained. There is also not enough money to support all activities of the cooperative movement. Cases about corruption, politics and disagreements between members also slow down the progress of cooperative groups,” asserts Nyangwecha.
But despite all these roadblocks, there are a number of local cooperative societies that are doing well and their members have reported better returns on their investments. One of such movements is; ‘Smiling Widows Savings and Credit (Sacco) society.
This is a registered society of 28 widows who came together and formed an entity with the core aim of improving the lives of widows in parts of Migori County.
The society is officially registered at the offices of the Social Services Department as a cooperative society with numerous project activities lined up to generate funds for members. Core among these projects is fish farming.
Domiciled at Ngege village in Suna-East Sub-County, Smiling Widows Sacco Society is a success story for women who have been rescued from poverty.
Many of these widows plunged into severe poverty soon after their husbands’ deaths and could only eke a living for their families through performing menial work like washing clothes for wealthy homeowners who pay them peanuts for jobs done.
But contrary to the previous lifestyles, all of them are all smiles, courtesy of the proceeds they earn from fish farming, table banking activities, breeding chickens and keeping dairy animals.
The Sacco has also had its account boosted by a financial grant of Sh250,000 from the Migori Governor’s spouse Agnes Ochilo, last year, and which members borrowed in turns, triggering a huge economic impact on the lives of the once poor widows.
The group’s Chairlady, Grace Atieno, acknowledges that they invested part of the money well by setting up three fish ponds on the outskirts of Migori town.
According to Atieno, the group with the help of the Migori Fisheries Department, stocked the three fishponds with 1,000 Tilapia fingerlings in 2024.
By mid-March this year, the chairlady confirms that the group had already harvested over 900 fish comprising Tilapia and Catfish, costing between Sh200 to Sh300 apiece, and eventually earning them over Sh300,000 in a single harvest.
Members of this Sacco have also been engaging in table banking and a merry-go-around business that has grown over the years, with the fish farming venture being their biggest agribusiness.
“We want to grow this group and empower more widows to be self-reliant as well as generate income for themselves”, stressed Atieno, during a recent interview.
She underscored the need for women’s empowerment, adding that in today’s world, women should not sit idle waiting for men to provide.
“We should all rise to the occasion and help each other to better our living standards and provide for our younger ones”, emphasized Atieno.
Chief Patron of the Smiling Widow Sacco, Ms. Caroline Okere, encourages more women to join such financial entities to reap the economic benefits they come with.
Okere, who is also a Nominated Member of the County Assembly of Migori, points out that she will continue to engage the leadership of the house to pass bills that will empower youth and women economically to improve their living conditions.
By Truphena Ombasa and Asiago Grey
