2026 #COOPSDAY
A Reflection from the 2026 Ushirika Day Celebrations
“Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution.” These timeless words by Aristotle perfectly capture the spirit of this year’s Ushirika Day celebrations. While the event showcased the remarkable achievements of Kenya’s cooperative movement, one moment stood out with profound significance: the recognition of the country’s Best Performing SACCOs.
The awards were far more than a celebration of institutional success. They were a tribute to visionary leadership, sound governance, innovation, financial resilience, and an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of millions of cooperative members. They reminded us that excellence is not measured merely by the size of a balance sheet, but by the trust an institution earns, the lives it transforms and the value it consistently creates for its members.
The cooperative movement in Kenya has long been a cornerstone of national development. From financing agriculture and affordable housing to empowering entrepreneurs, supporting education and advancing financial inclusion, cooperatives continue to demonstrate that collective action remains one of the most powerful tools for economic transformation. The recognition of outstanding SACCOs during Ushirika Day 2026 therefore sends a clear message: excellence is the engine that will propel the movement into the future.
As management guru Peter Drucker aptly stated, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Leading SACCOs in Kenya are doing exactly that. They are embracing digital transformation, strengthening governance, investing in innovation and placing members at the centre of every decision. In an era defined by technological disruption, cybersecurity risks and changing customer expectations, these institutions are proving that adaptability and professionalism are no longer optional; they are essential.
Yet, perhaps the greatest lesson from this year’s Ushirika awards is that excellence begins with leadership. John C. Maxwell reminds us that “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” Behind every successful SACCO is a board that governs with integrity, a management team that executes with vision, and employees who understand that exceptional service is not an obligation but a culture. Institutions become excellent because people choose excellence every day.
Recognition also serves another important purpose: it inspires. Every award presented challenges every SACCO, regardless of size, to ask a simple but powerful question: How can we serve our members better tomorrow than we do today? Excellence should never create complacency among winners or discouragement among others. Instead, it should ignite healthy competition, continuous learning, and an unwavering commitment to improvement across the entire cooperative sector.
Legendary investor Warren Buffett once observed, “It takes twenty years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.” For SACCOs, whose greatest asset is public confidence, these words are particularly relevant. Financial strength may attract members, but trust is what keeps them. Governance, transparency, accountability and ethical leadership remain the true foundations upon which sustainable cooperative success is built.
The cooperative movement has always demonstrated that ordinary people, united by a common purpose, can accomplish extraordinary things. As the African proverb wisely reminds us, “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” That spirit of togetherness continues to distinguish cooperatives from every other business model and remains their greatest competitive advantage.
As the excitement of Ushirika Day 2026 gives way to the realities of daily operations, the challenge before every SACCO is not simply to win the next award, but to build institutions worthy of the trust that millions of Kenyans place in them. Awards recognize achievement, but they also set the standard for what the movement can become.
The true legacy of the Best Performing SACCO Awards will therefore not be found in the trophies displayed in boardrooms, but in the inspiration they ignite across the cooperative movement. If they encourage better governance, stronger innovation, greater accountability and deeper commitment to members, then they will have achieved their highest purpose.
As we celebrate the champions of today, let us remember that the future of the cooperative movement in Kenya will not be defined by the DT Saccos or Co-operatives that are merely the biggest, but by those that remain the most trusted, the most innovative and the most committed to cooperative values. Vince Lombardi Said, “The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence.” The same is true for every SACCO.
And perhaps that is the greatest lesson from this year’s Ushirika Day celebrations: Excellence is not a trophy to be won – it is a culture to be lived, a responsibility to be upheld and a legacy to be passed on to future generations. The stronger our commitment to excellence today, the stronger Kenya’s cooperative movement will stand tomorrow.
Authored by Dr. Victor M. Wambua (Ph.D.), from the Co-operative University of Kenya.
