Nyandarua County’s cooperative movement took centre stage as members marked the 104th Ushirika Day celebrations at two venues: A.I.C Church Hall in Engineer Ward, Kinangop Sub-County, and D.C.C Hall in Weru Ward, Ol’Joro Orok Sub-County.
Governor Moses Badilisha Kiarie lauded the county’s cooperative sector for its scale and impact, noting that Nyandarua now hosts over 152 aggregate groups with a combined membership exceeding 314,000 across the county’s 25 wards.
In remarks read on his behalf by Chief Officer for Cooperative Development, Trade and Industrialization Njeri Njoroge, the Governor urged members to safeguard their institutions and embrace best practices, including digital innovation, sound governance, and stronger aggregation to boost their bargaining power in the market.
The cooperative sector remains a vital economic pillar in the county, providing direct livelihoods to over 20,000 residents and indirectly supporting another 60,000.
According to the Governor, the county government has registered 19 new cooperatives, trained 26 leaders in governance and financial management, and audited 63 books of account as part of efforts to strengthen the sector.
The county has also stepped up support for cooperatives through the distribution of milk coolers, churns, water storage tanks, and information technology equipment, alongside motorbikes, transformers, financial assistance, and capacity-building programmes—all part of its broader transformative agenda for the sector.
The event also honoured the county’s best-performing SACCOs, which received trophies and certificates in recognition of prudent management and sound administration.
