WILL SACCOs DIE IN THE DEVOLVED GOVERNMENTS ERA?

We are still in a situation where the National Government has halted a crisis from occurring by stating that they will continue with the function of paying civil servants salaries. This is until such a time when County Governments have put up the necessary infrastructure and systems that will handle salary payments. The National Government has just saved Saccos!!!!

Backwards?

Saccos under the various Ministries otherwise referred to as countrywide Saccos, functioned effectively under the National Government. These Saccos received employees deductions from the main line ministries not from numerous fragmented sources...read County Governments, as it is going to be. These Ministries remitted the same to Saccos within seven days as required by the Co-operative Societies Act Cap 490 Section 35. This particular section give us clue when sums deducted should be remitted and the consequences of not doing so within the stipulated time. In the 90's, many Saccos under the Local Authorities i.e. the county councils and municipal councils, collapsed or were rendered almost incapable of providing services to their members. The various councils and municipalities, used to deduct from salaries of their employees and never remitted to their respective Saccos. Instead these municipalities and county councils used the monies (which are salaries) to carry out other activities of those municipalities and county councils!! Some of the membership of these Saccos have not been refunded their Sacco contributions to date!!

Tick Tock Tick Tock!!

Will it work with Saccos?

All Saccos that are under Ministries of Health, Co-operatives Development and Marketing, Agriculture, Environment etc or any devolved "Ministry" may be affected. The main line Ministries all made sure that Saccos received members contributions together with loan repayments and the interests due within stipulated period. Will County Governments deduct and remit the same within the period required? Will instances like one viewed in some Counties e.g. Kiambu (missing a deadline!!) affect and ultimately kill these Saccos? What would be the situation like where County Governments will be required to deduct from employees salaries and remit monies to hundreds of Saccos within stipulated time given some counties are far removed from some services e.g. certain banks? Should the membership of these Saccos start withdrawing membership and seek refunds before things go haywire?

Tick Tock Tick Tock!!

Let us paint a picture here. In a County Government, their would be members of various countrywide Saccos (Wakulima Sacco, Shirika Sacco, Afya Sacco, Jamii Sacco, etc.). These County Governments would have of course budgeted for recurrent expenditure though probably despite the politics and greed like we just witnessed. The salaries would be paid through the County Governments to civil servants who work in the devolved systems. Also deductions will have to be effected by the County Governments from these workers to be remitted to their respective Saccos within seven days. There would be hundreds of Saccos waiting for their members deductions. Cheques will be written and deposited to these Saccos accounts or send all the way from Mandera, Lodwar, West Pokot, etc. The magnitude of these activities are overwhelming to say the least. Some County Governments probably will view this activity (deducting and remitting) as not a "priority". It will be a disaster too if salaries will delay, if County priorities will be as we just witnessed, if certain activities in a county have been underfunded and employees deductions seem easy way out, if corruption will intensify,etc.

Tick Tock Tick Tock!!

More information is needed!!

Then again are these Saccos placed to collect their members deductions from the 47 Counties? Do these Saccos know where their members are and how many are to be affected? Do these Saccos have a way of monitoring remitted deductions and notifying its membership of any failure by County Governments to do so? Will the Ministry or department at County Government responsible for co-operative societies have the muscles to effectively enforce Section 35 or shoot itself? Under which County will be these countrywide Saccos be? Nairobi? Will Nairobi County (if it is) have the manpower and even the mandate to enforce Section 35 to a County or Counties that failed to remit sums deducted?

We all know most people that have been employed by the County Governments are political or were employed for political reasons or tribal, nepotism, etc reasons. What will prevent them from doing shoddy jobs? What will motivate them to ensure Saccos don’t die? What will prevent them from punishing members of a certain Ministry within the County by holding their deductions and even salaries?

Tick Tock Tick Tock!!

Transcend your reality.

I say that co-operatives should have never been devolved. Devolve health, agriculture etc. but not co-operatives. Co-operatives have political bearing as they have elections and sometimes these elections are highly contested and attract politicians who influence it their way. What motivation will a co-operative officer have to stop such interference? What motivation will a co-operative officer have to enforce Co-operative Societies Act despite it being unpopular and being against County Government officials?

Tick Tock Tick Tock!!

WHAT IS A CO-OPERATIVE?

"The people's welfare can best be secured by institutions organized by the people themselves, because these institutions are most likely to possess the characteristics that appeal to the people and therefore the stability to perpetuate their services"- Alphonse Desjardins.

What is a Co-operative?

A co-operative is define as an autonomous association of persons united voluntary to meet their economic, social, cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically controlled enterprise. A co-operative may also be defines as a business owned and controlled equally by the people who use its services or who at it, who are referred to as members (International Co-operative Alliance).

Like companies co-operatives are economic organizations whose income generating activities are devoted to the economic and social welfare of their members by providing services which enable individuals to improve their personal skills and economic means for self advancement.

Co-operative is an idea, a thought, a certainty that yes we can, that anything the human mind can believe, the human mind can achieve. It is also important to note that "every individual forms his own estimate of himself and that basic estimate goes far towards determining what he or she becomes. You can do more than you believe you can. You can do more than you believe you are. Belief stimulates power within yourself. Have faith in faith. Don't be afraid to trust faith."

Co-operative approach implies:-

• Treating people as origin of action, not as objects to be manipulated or serviced
• Encouraging people to work together and help one another solve mutual problems
• Designing useful structures, processes, products and services so as to meet people's needs rather than profit making purposes alone.

CO-OPERATIVE PRINCIPLES

7 CO-OPERATIVE PRINCIPLES

(a) Voluntary and open membership

The society shall always be guided by the principle of voluntary and open membership in its member recruitment drive without political, ethnic, religious, gender or social discrimination.

(b) Democratic member control

The society will be fully controlled by members who will have equal voting rights on the basis of one member one vote.

(c) Economic participation by member

Members shall contribute equitably to the capital of the society and share in the results of its operations.

(d) Autonomy and independence

The society shall operate on mutually acceptable terms with its stakeholders who will ensure its autonomy and independence.

(e) Education, training and information

The society shall foster reciprocal, on–going education programmes for members, leaders, staff and the community so that they can teach and learn from each other or from the appropriate resource persons in understanding and carrying out their respective roles.

(f) Co-operation among co-operatives

In order to better serve the interests of the members and the community, the society shall actively co-operate with other co-operatives locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

(g) Concern for community in General

The society shall show concern to the community in which it exists and operates.

LET US PRAY......

OUR FATHER…. 

Considering that service, democracy and brotherhood are the fundamental principles in the co-operative movement;

That our objective is not only to serve the economic but also the social and cultural development as well as the human advancement of the members; 

And that in the co-operative system, the primary co- operatives, the federations and unions, the power of ultimate decision except those reserved by laws, resides in the membership. 

Grant us your Grace, to make integrity and unselfishness the basic standards of conduct; 

To guard against the use of our position in the co-operative for personal advantage; 

To discharge our responsibilities so as to promote and protect the best interest of the co-operative and its members; 

To accept the obligations of attendance, learning and participation relating to the position held; 

To give issues, objective hearings, to vote according to conscience and to support majority rulings;

And to encourage open, democratic procedures in the election of qualified candidates for volunteer service to fellowmen. All these we ask of YOU. 

Amen.