The Garissa government started training Sacco officials for efficiency in local co-operatives.
Some 28 participants drawn from 10 Saccos across the county benefited from the proficiency certificate course in co-operative leadership and integrity.
The training was done in partnership with USAID, Livestock Marketing Systems, Garissa Directorate of Co-operatives, and the Directorate of Livestock and facilitated by lecturers from the Co-operative University of Kenya.
Ijara Sub-County Livestock Production Officer Shaban Sahal said the county government is closely monitoring the activities of the 36 active co-operatives. He said the aim is to protect members from losing their investments, like with other societies in the country.
LMS boss John Kutwa said they are working with the CUK to digitize the training module for ease of access to co-operative societies. Kutwa said they had also supported the capacity building of all the 10 staff from the directorate of co-operatives to fulfill their mandate in developing the local industry effectively.
Some 28 Sacco officials completed the proficiency leadership and integrity course.
Garissa co-operative director Abdullahi Dagane said local producers had realized the benefits of coming together and forming Saccos. Garissa has 56 co-operative societies. Nine are registered as co-operatives, while 47 are Savings and Credit Societies. Of these, 36 are active, 20 are dormant, and two have collapsed. There are more than 5,000 registered members with a share capital turnover of Sh8 million.