By: Cynthia Masibo
The Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs Development Dr. Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya, launched the State Department for Cooperatives’ Strategic Plan (2023-2027) during a special event attended by government officials, partners, and stakeholders in the cooperative subsector.
In his address, Oparanya emphasized the crucial role of cooperatives in fostering socio-economic growth, especially in a largely informal, agriculture-based economy like Kenya’s. He highlighted that cooperatives bridge the gap between the formal and informal economies, providing opportunities for members to achieve their economic goals while integrating into global markets. This aligns with Kenya’s broader development plans, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and Kenya’s Vision 2030.
The Cabinet Secretary stressed that the current administration has recognized the cooperative model as a key driver in the country’s transformation, positioning cooperatives as integral to the nation’s shift towards a middle-income economy. He added that the Ministry’s commitment is focused on maximizing the potential of the cooperative sector through effective policy, legal frameworks, and capacity-building efforts.
He outlined the key areas of focus in the newly launched Strategic Plan, which will cover the period from 2023 to 2027. The plan is built on eleven primary objectives, including improving the policy and legal framework, enhancing cooperative governance, and driving the adoption of technology in cooperative operations. One of the main goals is to foster sustainable growth and prosperity for Kenya through enhanced cooperative structures that are well-governed, efficient, and innovative.
Oparanya also acknowledged the challenges the sector faces, particularly in governance, and revealed that the Ministry has made a deliberate effort to address these through the ongoing revision of the Co-operatives Act. He pointed out that governance remains a significant concern and that the Ministry is committed to tackling this through strategic partnerships with stakeholders. Additionally, the Ministry has collaborated in the formulation of the Kenya Cooperative Transformation Strategy (KCTS), ensuring alignment with broader national objectives.
The Cabinet Secretary also appealed to various sectors, including agriculture and transport, to collaborate closely with the cooperative movement in realizing the goals set out in the Strategic Plan. He underscored the importance of partnerships in advancing the cooperative agenda, urging stakeholders to integrate cooperatives into their planning for mutual benefit.
A key aspect of the Strategic Plan involves digitizing cooperative services as part of Kenya Kwanza’s broader digital agenda. The Ministry is pushing for cooperatives to adopt digital technologies urgently, as this will increase efficiency, improve governance, and streamline services.
Moreover, Oparanya called on development partners to share their experiences and best practices in cooperative governance. He stressed that implementing the plan will require substantial financial, technical, and material resources, and emphasized that the Ministry is working on a resource mobilization strategy to ensure the effective implementation of the plan’s objectives.
Concluding his speech, Oparanya thanked all participants for their continued engagement and assured them that the Ministry is open to further collaboration. He reiterated that the Ministry is committed to working closely with all partners to ensure the growth and prosperity of the cooperative sector in Kenya.
The launch marks a significant step in the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to transform the cooperative subsector, positioning it as a key pillar in Kenya’s socio-economic development.
Mt Kenya Times 
John Kariuki