By MKT Reporter
The National Assembly Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives has instructed the Council of Governors and the Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Development to find common ground on a key Bill.
Committee chairperson James Gakuya (Embakasi North) issued this directive after COG and the Ministry clashed over the Cooperatives Bill 2024.
The Bill, among other proposals, seeks to provide a legal framework that promotes a sustainable and competitive cooperative sector for socio-economic development.
Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka, who is also the chairperson of the COG Agriculture, Livestock, and Cooperatives Committee, expressed concerns that certain parts of the bill contradict constitutional provisions.
Earlier, Cooperatives and MSME Development Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui highlighted the numerous benefits of the bill and stated they had consulted the Council of Governors, receiving their approval.
However, Lusaka, accompanied by his Vice Chairperson, Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, clarified that they had not reached a consensus and urged the Committee to postpone implementation until issues are resolved.
The disagreement prompted intervention from the chairperson and Vice chairperson who is also the Aldai constituency MP Marianne Kitany, stressing the need for collaboration for the country’s benefit.
“You have one week to agree and come up with a unified document to submit before this committee,” directed the chairperson.
Representatives from various State Departments, including Trade, the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC), and the Office of the Attorney General, also presented their views.
Suleiman Mbatiah