The Senate Standing Committee on Trade, Industrialization, and Tourism, chaired by Senator Issa Boy Juma (Kwale), has called for a review of the Cooperative Societies Act and the Sacco Societies Act (2008) to improve accountability, transparency, and public trust in SACCOs. During a recent meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs, Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya, the Senate committee highlighted policy and legislative priorities to strengthen the cooperative and MSME sectors.
The session, which was also attended by Principal Secretaries Patrick Kilemi (Cooperatives) and Susan Auma Mang’eni (MSMEs), provided a platform to assess ongoing government initiatives and explore legislative measures that enhance governance, financial inclusion, and economic growth.
The committee underscored the urgent need for stronger oversight in cooperative governance, committing to collaborate closely with the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs to enact policies and legislative reforms that drive inclusive economic growth. “Moving forward, the committee will continue to provide oversight and legislative support to strengthen MSMEs, cooperatives, and trade policies for the benefit of all Kenyans,” said Senator Juma.
Others in attendance were Vice Chairperson Senator Esther Okenyuri (Nominated), Senator Okiya Omtatah (Busia), Senator George Mbugua (Nominated), Senator John Methu (Nyandarua), and Senator Hamida Kibwana (Nominated).
