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{
    "id": 1048911,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1048911/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 249,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Kindiki",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1046,
        "legal_name": "Kithure Kindiki",
        "slug": "kithure-kindiki"
    },
    "content": "Madam Deputy Speaker, I beg to support the Second Reading of the Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2020. The first cooperative society in Kenya was registered in 1908. Since then, there have been more than 22,000 cooperative societies in Kenya. The purpose of cooperatives is to do business together and also access credit, even as members enjoy economies of scale. The cooperative movement in Kenya is one of the most developed in the entire world. Within Africa, Kenya has the best cooperative movement structure. Therefore, it is because of this rich history and experience that Kenya continues to become a trailblazer in this area. Under the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of Kenya, Part II and Clause 7(e), the role of development and regulation of cooperative societies is vested in the county governments across our country. One would wonder, therefore, why we do not seem to have a lot of interest and county level legislation around this area, yet the importance and critical role of cooperative societies to turn around the economy of our country cannot be overemphasized. This Bill becomes important because under Article 190 of the Constitution, the national Government through Parliament, namely, the National Assembly and the Senate, is empowered to put in place overarching legislation even on devolved functions, to ensure there is benchmarking and policy direction. As much as these functions are devolved, the issue of regulation and standards setting remains at the national level. Therefore, I see the utility of this Bill in the context of Article 190(1) of our Constitution. Cooperatives are the game-changer. I dare say that the root of the Kenya’s future is the growth and stability of the cooperative movement. I say so because all the countries that have developed in the last 50 years - the newly industrialized countries in South East Asia and in Southern America - have been developed through two main drivers. The first is the cooperative societies movement, which is called credit unions in those countries, and the second one is a strong cottage industry or small industries in small towns spread across the country, as opposed to mega industries localized in one place. This country stands to benefit from strengthening its cooperative societies’ movement and building on the experiences of the last 112 years. As I have said, the first cooperative society was registered by white settlers way back in 1908. Allow me, in the same vein, to hail the wonderful contribution that cooperative societies have made in the promotion of health, education and housing across this country. Many people across the breath and length of our land will tell you that they have built their permanent houses, taken their children to school, paid their hospital bills, build their businesses and small shops that we find across our land. All those developments and The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}