The Council of Governors (CoG) Agriculture, Livestock, Trade & Cooperatives Committees and the Commissioner of Cooperative Development recently attended a session with the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives chaired by Hon James Gakuya (Embakasi North). Their main agenda was discussing the Cooperative Bill 2024, which is scheduled for a second reading in Parliament. This Bill aims to establish a legal framework for governing cooperative societies in the country, streamlining the process of registering cooperatives at the county level.
Mr. Obonyo disclosed that after a consultative meeting, the Ministry and the CoG reconciled their differing opinions on the Cooperatives Bill No. 7 of 2024 and jointly presented a memorandum to the committee, outlining their proposals.
The upcoming enactment of the Cooperative Bill 2024 heralds a new chapter for cooperatives in Kenya. After 15 years in development, it was approved by the Cabinet and is now awaiting parliamentary deliberations, representing a significant legislative achievement.
Having been approved by the Cabinet last year, the Bill is currently under parliamentary review. This progression was made possible by an amicable agreement between the Co-operatives Ministry and the Council of Governors, resolving certain contentious issues.
A notable feature of this Bill is the establishment of a comprehensive regulatory framework for cooperatives, involving both national and county governments. This new framework seeks to promote self-regulation within the cooperative movement and enhance governance tools.
