A farmers’ Savings and Credit Cooperative organization in Kisii County has recorded growth in its core capital from Sh600 million 12 years ago to Sh1.7 billion currently.
Wakenya Pamoja Sacco Society Limited, which boasts of a membership of over 130,000, comprises mainly Coffee and Tea farmers in the Gusii (Kisii and Nyamira) region, although it has a few businessmen and pensioners.
Speaking during a delegates’ annual general meeting held at Kisii National Polytechnic on the outskirts of Kisii town, the organisation’s CEO, Isaac Omwenga, noted that WPS was on the right trajectory and would soon expand to other regions.
Omwenga explained that WPS had accommodated all levels of farmers, including the small holders, to enable them to grow their income and opened doors for owners of micro, small, and medium enterprises who could also access credit.
To enable the Sacco to grow further, Omwenga said they were encouraging members to increase their savings to act as security when they need credit instead of rely
ing on guarantors.
This, he said, will increase borrowing power and raise the core capital.
However, Omwenga decried increasing levels of default, especially during the current harsh economic times, but attributed it to the high cost of living and low rates from cash crop proceeds.
Wakenya Pamoja Chairman Francis Ayieko applauded the members for embracing mobile banking, saying it had increased the rate of cash transactions because it was easy for many members, especially the elderly ones.
He also cited competition from other Saccos as a setback, saying they were poaching many of their clients in the region.
Wakenya Pamoja Sacco Society Limited was started in 1976 as a Union Banking Section of Kisii Farmers’ Co-operative Union (KFCU). It became autonomous in 1992 under the name Gusii Farmers Rural Sacco Society Limited (GRFS).
WPS was licensed to conduct deposit-taking Sacco business on May 20, 2011, subject to the provisions of the Sacco Societies Act No. 14 of 2008.
The society is managed by a board
of directors structured into various committees.
Source: Kenya News Agency
The manufacturing trade deficit narrowed significantly by 60.6%, to TND -3,769.5 million at the end of November 2023, from TND -9,564.4 million in the same period of 2022, according to the Agency for the Promotion of Industry and Innovation (APII).
Exports from the manufacturing sector posted an increase of of 11% compared to the end of November 2022, reaching TND 50,954.7 million.
Imports from the sector amounted to TND 54,724.2 million in the eleven months of 2023, down 1.3% compared to the same period in 2022.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse