Page 46 - SACCOStar Mag Vol 46 Press_txt.pdf
P. 46
OPINION
The Diary of a Man who
Once Ran the Union«
?:ŽSYEOAu?KOEŽ
Lead consultant at Triangular Link Services. He has previously served as the
Managing Director at KUSCCO LTD (1974-1981) and the CEO at ICPAK (1993-1994).
s:KDW LV WKH .LQJGRP RI *RG OLNH" ,W LV OLNH D its own funds, its budget, including salaries had to be funded
mustard seed which a man took and planted in AXCNMNQR
KKSGDCNMNQRVDQDHMSQNCTBDCAXSGD EQHB@M
his garden. It grew and became a tree and the Confederation of Co-operative Savings and Credit Associations
birds of the air perched in its branches.” (ACCOSCA). ACCOSCA bought the KUSCCO mustard seed from
Luke 13:18. USA and Canada through the World Council of Credit Unions
6.""4
(S NQF@MHYDC SGD OKNTFGHMF NE SGD ?DKC O@QSHBHO@SDC
The transformation and growth of KUSCCO compares favorably in the planting and early watering of the seed. Through WOCCU
with the meaning and philosophy at the core of this biblical various other donors participated in watering the KUSCCO
PTNS@SHNM
(@LOQNTCSNAD@RRNBH@SDCVHSGHSRSQ@MRENQL@SHNM
mustard seed.
RHSR?QRS"GHDE$WDBTSHUD.?BDQ(O@QSHBHO@SDCHMV@SDQHMFSGD SPREADING THE KUSCCO GOSPEL
seed just after it had germinated in 1974. KUSCCO was my 2nd
employer after serving the Government of Kenya in the Ministry Like the Holy Spirit in the Bible, the results of a service are felt
of Local Government for two 2 months. I was handed my letter and appreciated later, not before. KUSCCO‘s services to the
of appointment together with the car keys of the Union’s car, local SACCO movement are intangible. At this time in KUSCCO’s
*/,R5NKJRV@FDMQDRDQUDCENQN?BH@KTRDVGDM(QDONQSDC history, the Union had no resources and its services had never
in 1974. I didn’t have a driving license having just graduated been tasted. We were marketing services in form of “promises”.
from The University of Nairobi with a Bachelor of Commerce This made our work tricky and we found ourselves on weak
degree just three months earlier. ground.
The Union began operations with a seven member Board, then 3N?MCNTQENNSHMFVDO@QSMDQDCVHSGSGD"DMSQ@K.QF@MHY@SHNM
called the Management Committee. These are the pioneers who of Trade Unions (COTU) another organization which actively
planted the KUSCCO mustard seed and watered it. I participated assisted in the watering of the KUSCCO seed. We preached the
in the watering. In those days, I had little resources at my saving culture message with lots of success, but this needed to be
CHRONR@KSNRS@QSN?SGDRDBQDS@QH@S@MCJHBJRS@QSSGDNODQ@SHNMR done conveniently. The only way this could be done was through
NESGD4MHNM
(HMGDQHSDC@K@ANTQENQBDNEENTQRS@?CDOKNXDCHM BGDBJRN?E@BHKHSHDRAXDLOKNXDQR
(SV@RSGDMENTMCMDBDRR@QX
Nairobi, Central, Eastern, Nyanza, Western and Coast provinces, SNAQHMF".34*NMAN@QCAXRDKKHMF*42"".SN".34N?BH@KR
with one typist in Nairobi. The Union’s cash balance at the Co- 3GQNTFGSGDRDINHMSD?NQSRBGDBJN?E@BHKHSHDRVDQD@MBGNQDCHM
NODQ@SHUD!@MJNE*DMX@V@R*RGR
the promotion and management of the SACCO movement.
( V@R @ NMD L@M RGNV @S SGD GD@C N?BD @MC G@C SN RG@QD
typing services with the manager in charge of Nairobi, Central
and Eastern provinces. Before the Union started generating
44| SACCO Star Magazine

