Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti during the county’s celebrations to mark International Co-operatives Day (Ushirika Day) 2025. Photo by Gvrns Press Team. 
By Andrew Mbuva
Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has reaffirmed her administration’s unwavering support for the co-operative movement, terming it a critical driver of inclusive growth, economic resilience, and community empowerment.
Speaking during the county’s celebrations to mark International Co-operatives Day (Ushirika Day) 2025, Governor Wavinya pledged to strengthen partnerships with SACCOs and co-operative societies to enhance financial inclusion and uplift livelihoods at the grassroots.
“Co-operatives are more than just financial institutions – they are engines of empowerment, shared prosperity, and sustainable development,” the Governor said. “My government is fully committed to supporting this movement in transforming the lives of our people, especially youth and women across all our wards.”
The celebrations, held under the global theme “Driving Inclusive and Sustainable Solutions for a Better World,” brought together representatives from co-operative societies and SACCOs drawn from all corners of Machakos County.
Governor Wavinya hailed the impressive growth of the co-operative sector in the county, noting that Machakos is home to 393 registered co-operative societies boasting a membership of over 259,000 individuals, with an annual turnover of KSh 3.5 billion. Collectively, these societies command a share capital and asset base of KSh 13.7 billion.
“These numbers speak to the strength, resilience, and impact of our co-operative movement. They are a testament to the spirit of self-help, unity, and innovation that defines our people,” she added.
During the event, several high-performing SACCOs were recognized and awarded for their innovation, governance, and contributions to co-operative values and community development. The Governor lauded the awardees for their exemplary service and urged others to emulate their commitment.
She further called on more Machakos residents, especially young people, to embrace the co-operative model as a path to economic empowerment and job creation.
“As a county, we are prioritizing policies and programs that support co-operatives to thrive. From access to credit and capacity building to digital innovation and market linkages – we are building an enabling environment for co-operatives to flourish,” Governor Wavinya said.
Ushirika Day is celebrated annually to recognize the role of co-operatives in fostering social cohesion, economic justice, and sustainable development. The Governor encouraged continued collaboration between the government and co-operative stakeholders to ensure the sector remains a cornerstone of Machakos’ economic progress.
