By Shadrack Nyakoe
The Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development, Wycliffe Oparanya, has officially taken over from his predecessor, Simon Chelugui, in a handover ceremony held at the Cooperatives building.
During the handover, Chelugui urged Oparanya to advocate for the development of retail and policy functions within the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs, noting that these functions remained with the Ministry of Trade when MSMEs were separated.
He also highlighted the importance of monitoring the ongoing coffee reforms, warning that various interests could derail the progress made so far.
Reflecting on his tenure, Chelugui emphasized key accomplishments, particularly the long-awaited Cooperative Bill, which has been in discussion for 15 years.
“We concluded public participation and submitted the document to Cabinet and later to Parliament. I urge the new minister to vigorously pursue its enactment, as it will address critical governance issues threatening cooperatives’ integrity,” Chelugui stated.
Chelugui also discussed the Coffee Bill, currently before Parliament, which aims to reestablish the Coffee Code of Kenya. He stressed its significance in enhancing the marketing of Kenyan coffee and supporting farmers in the sector.
Regarding challenges in the cooperative movement, Chelugui highlighted the need for shared services technology to lower costs and improve cooperatives’ capacity to add value to their products. He specifically mentioned the New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC), calling for a review of its operations to better support grassroots dairy farmers.
Additionally, Chelugui praised the impact of the Hustler Fund, which has benefited over 22 million Kenyans, and expressed hope that the new administration would enhance its effectiveness. He also stressed the need to reduce the cost of animal feeds and improve governance in cooperatives to ensure their sustainability.
In his first address as Cabinet Secretary, Oparanya acknowledged Chelugui’s contributions and committed to building on these achievements. He emphasized his focus on advocating for the MSME sector, improving access to credit, and reducing bureaucratic barriers that hinder small business growth.
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