Kiambu County reaffirmed its position as one of Kenya’s leading cooperative economies during the 104th Ushirika Day celebrations held at Ndumberi Stadium on Saturday, with leaders praising the sector for transforming livelihoods, strengthening social cohesion and driving inclusive economic growth.
The event, held to mark the International Day of Cooperatives, brought together cooperative leaders, farmers, Sacco officials, dairy and coffee producers, transport cooperatives, county officials and development partners under the global theme, “Cooperatives for a Peaceful World.”
Governor Dr. Kimani Wamatangi, whose speech was delivered by Chief Officer for Cooperatives Peter Ndegwa, said cooperative societies remain the backbone of Kiambu’s economy by enabling citizens to mobilize resources, access affordable financial services, improve productivity and secure better markets for their produce.
He said the cooperative movement continues to provide opportunities for families to improve their livelihoods, empower young people through enterprise and build resilient communities capable of withstanding economic challenges.
The Governor noted that Kiambu has more than 917 registered cooperative societies, with 444 actively serving over 703,945 members. Together, the societies generate an annual turnover exceeding KSh22 billion and hold share capital worth more than KSh6.6 billion.
He attributed the sector’s steady growth to increasing public confidence, revealing that cooperative savings have risen from KSh81.6 billion to KSh109.49 billion in recent years.
“The growth demonstrates the trust that wananchi continue to place in cooperative societies as reliable institutions for savings, investment and wealth creation,” the Governor said.
Dr. Wamatangi highlighted the county’s investments in agriculture, saying coffee production has reached 10.8 million kilograms, generating more than KSh1 billion in gross sales and improving household incomes for thousands of farming families.
To enhance coffee quality and increase farmers’ earnings, the county has installed 114 metallic coffee drying beds and improved security at Komothai Coffee Cooperative Society through perimeter fencing, solar lighting and the rehabilitation of its electric fence.
He said the dairy sector remains one of Kiambu’s strongest economic pillars, with cooperative societies producing more than 146 million litres of milk annually and generating KSh11.7 billion in sales. Farmers received more than KSh6.8 billion from the proceeds.
The county government has also invested in milk coolers, pasteurizers, milk ATMs and digital weighing scales to improve efficiency, reduce post-harvest losses and promote value addition.
Recognizing the contribution of youth to the local economy, the Governor said the county has disbursed about KSh30 million through a revolving fund to boda boda cooperatives and organized groups across all 60 wards to improve access to affordable financing and support business expansion.
He challenged cooperative leaders to uphold integrity, accountability and sound governance, saying transparent leadership is essential in safeguarding members’ savings and ensuring the long-term sustainability of cooperative societies.
Earlier, Kiambu County Director of Cooperatives Janet Githendu welcomed delegates and commended cooperative officers across the county together with the Kiambu County Cooperative Association (KCCA) for organizing the event.
She said this year’s theme highlights the important role cooperatives play in promoting peace, inclusion and sustainable development by creating opportunities that improve people’s lives.
KCCA Chairman John Waweru called on cooperative members to embrace unity and become ambassadors of peace, noting that the movement is founded on the principles of democracy, solidarity, self-help and shared responsibility.
Quoting the International Cooperative Alliance message, Waweru said peace is achieved not only through the absence of conflict but also through economic opportunity, social justice and shared prosperity.
He observed that communities that work together economically are less likely to be divided by political, ethnic or social differences.
Waweru said Kiambu’s cooperative sector, comprising Saccos, dairy, transport, housing and agricultural marketing societies, generates nearly KSh1 billion in business every month. However, he acknowledged challenges including limited access to affordable credit, high production costs, regulatory constraints and declining agricultural yields.
He urged leaders to engage more frequently beyond the annual Ushirika Day celebrations to find practical solutions that will strengthen cooperative enterprises and enhance service delivery to members.
The celebrations ended with renewed calls for cooperative societies to embrace innovation, transparency and collaboration as they continue to drive economic transformation, create employment and contribute to lasting peace and prosperity across Kiambu County.
