The County Government of Kirinyaga has taken a significant step in empowering local farmers by training officials from the newly launched Ward-Based Multi-Value Chain SACCOs.
The training, conducted in partnership with CIC Insurance and Cooperative Bank, aimed to enhance the officials' capacity to effectively manage the cooperatives.
A total of 172 officials from 20 wards underwent capacity building on key aspects such as money lending, insurance, and collateral management.
The initiative supports around 6,000 farmers engaged in various value chains, including avocado, tomatoes, poultry, banana, and dairy goat farming.
Governor Anne Waiguru said the SACCOs are part of the Wezesha Kirinyaga Program, which seeks to boost agricultural productivity and household income.
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"The county government supported the formation of the SACCOs through provision of office equipment such as computers and printers as well as Sh12.3 million to enable them meet the initial running costs that included paying for statutory documentation, training of staff, office rent and member mobilization," Waiguru noted.
The SACCOs were established to offer farmers affordable operational capital, savings and credit services, farm inputs, and opportunities for value addition and bulk marketing.
Waiguru highlighted the initiative as a strategy to position Kirinyaga’s farmers as key suppliers for upcoming agro-processing factories at the Sagana Industrial Park.
Speaking during the training session at Kutus Catholic Church hall, County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Dr. John Gachara, revealed that the SACCOs had raised Sh14.5 million in share capital, registration, and savings, while lending Sh6.5 million to members.
“Affordable Sacco loans have enabled farmers acquire agricultural inputs and meet other requirements and then repay after harvesting and selling their produce," Gachara stated.
SACCO officials expressed gratitude for the county's support, with Murinduko Amani Farmers SACCO Secretary, Evangeline Kamau, stating, “We shall now be able to give loans to our members without much worry because we now know how to insure the loans that we will be giving out.”
Nyangati Springs SACCO Chairman, Cyrus Muchiri, praised the initiative for enabling farmers to transition from subsistence to commercial farming.
Similarly, Mutira Wings SACCO Chairman, Joseph Njiru, whose SACCO has mobilized Sh2 million and recruited over 500 members, hailed the programme as transformative for smallholder farmers in Kirinyaga.
The County Government’s continued investment in SACCOs underscores its commitment to agricultural transformation and economic empowerment for its residents.
