Kenya Pastoralist Parliamentary Group Meets with CS Wycliffe Oparanya to Discuss Cooperatives in Pastoralist Counties

The Kenya Pastoralist Parliamentary Group (PPG), the largest caucus in the Kenyan Parliament, held a crucial meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives, Hon. Wycliffe Oparanya, to address the status of cooperatives in Kenya’s pastoralist regions.

The PPG, which comprises 105 members, including 18 senators, 84 MPs from 15 counties, and 3 East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) members, is focused on improving the livelihoods of pastoralist communities.

The meeting was led by PPG Patron, Hon. Col (Rtd) Dido Ali Rasso, MP, and attended by key members, including Treasurer Hon. Elijah Memusi Kanchory MP, Legal Advisor Hon. Timothy Kipchumba MP, Livestock Thematic Group Chair Hon. Adan Haji Yussuf MP, Advisor to the President Prof. Abdi Guliye, Abdirahman Abass, Manager of the Livestock Sector Support (LSS) Program at the Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC), and CEO of DLCI Jarso Mokku.

During the discussions, CS Oparanya emphasized the importance of cooperatives as a devolved function and urged the PPG to submit a formal request for regular technical support. This support would include capacity-building, cooperative training, and resource mobilization to boost the cooperative movement in pastoralist counties. The CS pledged to organize a retreat for PPG members to provide updates on the cooperative sector and explore collaborative approaches.

CS Oparanya highlighted the success of SACCOs in other parts of the country, particularly in Central Kenya, where nearly every household is part of a cooperative. However, he pointed out that the cooperative movement has not yet been fully introduced in pastoralist counties, which are facing high poverty levels. He urged PPG members to support the ongoing amendments to the Cooperative Act in Parliament to ensure it is aligned with current realities and address governance challenges in the sector.

This meeting marks a significant step toward empowering pastoralist communities through cooperatives, ensuring their inclusion in Kenya’s economic landscape. By strengthening the cooperative movement in pastoralist areas, PPG aims to provide sustainable economic opportunities and improve livelihoods in the region.