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OPINION
8NTB@MMNSD?DBSHUDKXL@M@FDVG@SXNT This principle is so sacred last year likened to God’s ten commandments
don’t own. You cannot be a president of when IEBC appointed returning where non can stand once one of
Kenya without holding a Kenyan identity N?BDQRSNU@QHNTRONKKHMFRS@SHNMR them has been violated. Moreover
card. No wonder this is a constitution in last years general elections the the proposed amendments as regards
requirement. I have worked in both High Court declared the move the investments by Co-operatives
private and public sectors and my unconstitutional; because the societies are redundant.
experience is that all big scandals in this stakeholders in the elections the
country can be traced to the Parastatals political parties had not participated in 3GDQDHRRT?BHDMSOQNUHRHNMHM
Act which imposes social impact members the exercise. the existing legislation to ensure
to otherwise potentially viable economic prudent investment by Co-operatives
units. The Co-operative movement should The Co-operative movement RNBHDSHDR
2DBSNQRNESGD"N
not allow this to happen. consists of individual members who operatives Societies act and section
voluntarily come together to improve 38 of the SACCO’s Acts are very
NSSF is managed by social impact their socio-economic welfare using clear on how Co-operatives societies
members appointed by the National a commonly owned and equitably should invest their surplus funds. I
Government and so is Bank of Kenya, managed enterprise to be registered, have read all the annual supervisory
Youth Fund and Kenyatta National. The list by the Commissioner for Co-operative reports by SASRA since its formation
of otherwise viable institutions performing Development, the enterprises must in 2010.
poorly under the management of so called conform with section 4(b) which
social impact members in this country is contains all the Co-op Society Act 7 Nowhere has the authority ever
endless. Co-operative leaders and MPs principles programmed by ICA which reported that SACCO’s funds have
who care for this country should not are fundamental to the Co-operative been invested wastefully. So what are
support this retrogressive step mooted by movement. the proposed amendments expected
@RDK?RGFQNTONEHMCHUHCT@KR? SN?W.MDB@MNMKXBNMBKTCDSG@SSGD
The above subsection of the Co- sole intention is to allow the social
The proposed Bill is unconstitutional and operative societies Act legalizes the impact members scavenge on Co-
it should not therefore get the support principles. The proposed amendments operative savings on behalf of those
of the Attorney General. The constitution seeks to do away with principles who appoint them.
provides for consultations with the (i-iv) and thereby emasculate the
stakeholders before proposing a major very foundation of the Co-operative I have been associated with the
RGHESHMONKHBX@?DBSHMFSGDL
movement. These principles can be Co-operative movement from mid
1970s up to now and can with full
BNM?CDMBDRS@SDSG@STMKHJDSGDO@RS
the movement has enough highly
PT@KH?DCL@MONVDQSNODQENQLSGD
role of social impact.
Members in the 1970s and 1980s
SGDLNUDLDMSBNTKCMNS@?NQC
to hire and retain professionally
PT@KH?DCL@MONVDQ2DBSHNMA
NE2 "".2NBHDSHDR BSRODBH?DRSGD
PT@KH?B@SHNMRNE@MHMSDQM@K@TCHSNQNE
a Deposit Training (DT) SACCO.
What should be debated and
encouraged at the moment is
a policy insisting on minimum
PT@KH?B@SHNMRENQSGD!N@QCLDLADQR
of D.T SACCO’s and not dream of
bringing in strangers.
34| SACCO Star Magazine
