Governor Mutuma signs new law to revamp Meru's Cooperative sector

Meru governor Isaac Mutuma delivers a speech after being sworn in as the fourth governor at Mwendantu Grounds on March 17, 2025. [Mose Sammy, Standard] Governor Isaac Mutuma has endorsed the Meru County Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act 2025 to govern the sector. The Act provides a framework for regulation of cooperative societies in Meru, regarded as the home of the cooperatives industry in the country. While unveiling the document, Mutuma said it will empower members economically and build resilience. He urged the society's management to work and create wealth for the community. "Meru is the cradle of the cooperative movement, and we take great pride in our over 464 registered cooperative societies. Each of them is properly registered and has its books of accounts audited. This is a testament to our commitment to transparency and accountability," said Mutuma. He said his administration will not stand by while the sweat of the people is stolen by cartels "who rob us of our cherries and go as far as killing our night watchmen." He pledged to bring on board aggregators across various value chains. "We aim to enhance value addition, access better markets, and reduce post-harvest losses.We must protect the fruits of our labor and ensure fair value for all our workers." In a bid to promote teamwork and consultations, the cooperative societies have the Cooperatives Board, whose duties include ensuring cooperative movement thrives. The cooperative movement in Meru has over 464 registered societies, one of the highest numbers in Kenya, and 16 Saccos operating under their umbrella. "Collectively, these institutions contribute to an impressive Sh30 billion in circulation within Meru County, a clear indicator of the sector's vitality and potential." He said his administration is putting efforts in strengthening the cooperative ecosystem, "which is a vital pillar of our local economy." Mutuma said some of the most pressing challenges facing the cooperative sector were market access and rampant coffee theft, which had resulted in millions in losses over the past four years. To curb this, the cooperative board proposed enhanced security measures, including the installation of surveillance cameras. Mutuma said there was a persistent challenge of dairy meal shortages and the infiltration of brokers, which continue to undermine the stability of agricultural markets and farmer earnings. He reaffirmed his commitment to work closely with the cooperative board and the cooperative community He said budgetary allocation for cooperative development will be a key priority in the devolved unit's planning and resource distribution. "We must strengthen legislative frameworks to address these challenges head-on, protecting all value chains, reducing post-harvest losses, and ensuring that our producers benefit from fair trade practices. Cooperatives remain a cornerstone of economic empowerment and social cohesion in Meru." Some members of the societies, who include farmers, had in the past blamed the societies' management for a myriad of problems, including financial mismanagement, bad investments, and lack of accountability and transparency. Charles Mutwiri of the Mukarimu Coffee Estates said poor leadership had been a major problem in some of Meru's cooperative societies, which were run like family businesses. Mr Mutwiri, one of the biggest farmers in Meru, said some society's bosses have remained in their posts for up to 20 years, despite being responsible for many of the problems facing farmers. "You will find some managers of the unions who have been there for two decades. They hold on to those seats as if it were a family business. Fresh leadership is urgently needed so that we can restore the society's profitability, so that farmers profit from their toil," said Mutwiri. Nkuene MCA Martin 'Makasi' Koome is one of the local leaders who had accused the society's managers of failing members. "I am disappointed by the way they are managed completely, and the cooperative laws, too, are colonial," said Koome.

Governor Mutuma signs new law to revamp Meru's Cooperative sector

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