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By Boniface Mulu
Kitui County, Kenya: Thousands of cooperators across Kitui County joined the global community on Saturday, July 5, 2025, in celebrating the 103rd International Cooperatives Day under the powerful theme: “Cooperatives: Driving Inclusive and Sustainable Solutions for a Better World.”
Held at the Kitui British American Tobacco (BAT) Grounds, the event was graced by Kitui County Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives Minister Rose Mawia Mutuku, who represented Governor Dr. Julius Makau Malombe. In her keynote address, Mutuku emphasized the transformative power of cooperatives in fostering financial independence and economic resilience.
“Cooperatives are not just businesses—they are vehicles of empowerment,” declared Minister Mutuku. “By pooling resources, sharing risks, and democratizing wealth, they provide a sustainable model for lifting communities out of poverty.”
With 460 registered cooperatives in Kitui County—boasting 146,016 members, KSh 14.5 billion in assets, and KSh 1.3 billion in share capital—the sector is a critical driver of local economic growth.
“Cooperatives control a significant portion of Kenya’s GDP,” Mutuku noted. “They create jobs, enable self-employment, and ensure that wealth circulates within our communities rather than being siphoned away by external corporations.”
The minister challenged cooperators to shift from subsistence models to value-chain enterprises, urging them to:
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Identify high-demand goods for local, regional, and global markets.
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Embrace value addition (e.g., processing honey, leather, and green grams).
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Develop financial products tailored to members’ needs.
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Aggressively recruit new members to expand capital and influence.
“We must move beyond survival and into wealth creation,” she stressed. “That means thinking bigger—processing our mangoes instead of just selling them raw, branding our honey for international markets, and leveraging our mineral resources through collective investment.”
To accelerate cooperative success, the Kitui County Government has:
Allocated 1,500 acres in Kanyonyoo for a County Industrial Park, where cooperatives will lead in aggregation, processing, and value addition.
Introduced six economic zones to streamline investment in sectors like textiles, leather, and agriculture.
Committed to skills development, branding, and trade fair participation to boost market access.
“Our goal is simple: Buy Kitui, Build Kitui,” Mutuku proclaimed. “When we support local cooperatives, we keep money in our economy and create jobs for our youth.”
The event also honored top-performing cooperatives, including:
🏆 Univision Sacco – Best Urban Sacco & First to Hold AGM (2025)
🏆 Bestrock Sacco – Best Rural Sacco
🏆 Kwa Vonza Boda Boda Sacco – Best Transport Sacco
🏆 Kitui Yatta B2 Ranching Co-op – Best Livestock Cooperative
🏆 Kitui Teachers Housing Co-op – Best Housing Society
In her closing remarks, Mutuku reminded leaders of their duty to operate with transparency, accountability, and solidarity.
“Cooperatives are built on self-help, equality, and shared prosperity,” she said. “When we uphold these values, we don’t just grow businesses—we build a financially independent Kitui.”
Also in attendance were: Simon Muema Munyoki (Cooperative Alliance of Kenya, Kitui Chair), Paul Ngei Monyi (County Cooperatives Chief Officer), Florence M. Mutua (Univision Sacco) & Michael M. Mutua (Bestrock Sacco).
As the celebrations concluded, one message rang clear: Cooperatives are not just the future of Kitui’s economy—they are the foundation of its financial freedom.
