The Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development Cabinet Secretary (CS), Wycliffe Oparanya, has officially been handed over the Ministry docket by his predecessor, Simon Chelugui, following the recent Cabinet dissolution by President William Ruto.
Speaking during the handover, the new Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Cooperatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Wycliffe Oparanya, acknowledged the new structures that had been set and assured the staff and the public that he will pick up from where his predecessor had left.
‘When I met the Deputy President, he briefed me on the coffee and agriculture reforms that have taken place in their respective sectors, and I thank the outgoing CS for playing an important role in those sectors,’ said Oparanya.
The CS noted challenges like governance from the cooperative sector and appreciated Chelugui for coming up with amendments to the Cooperative Bill, which is currently before the National Assembly.
He further c
ongratulated Hon. Chelugui for managing to mobilise external resources to the Ministry, which had a lot of bills, and assured the public that he will ensure small businesses have access to funding.
In his remarks, former CS Hon. Simon Chelugui stated that the Ministry has been able to resolve some legacy and historical issues in the cooperative sector and even went beyond to come up with a bill to correct and manage the cooperative sector, which carries over 14 million Kenyans.
He revealed that the Ministry has been able to set up functional departments, cooperative movements, and MSMEs while upholding fairness and equality to all stakeholders, an initiative that, in return, has touched the lives of Kenyans all over the 47 counties.
Chelugui further noted that in the MSMEs sector, over 90 per cent of Kenyan employment is generated in that particular sector and appealed to the new CS to invest in the sector as it affects 60 per cent of Kenya’s population.
Further, he acknowledged the State Department of Co
operatives and informed the CS that the cooperative movement is ranked First in Africa and seventh globally.
‘Cooperatives have played a vital role in empowering Kenyans and fostering development from agriculture to finance, healthcare, housing, and transport as it fosters sustainable development,’ he highlighted.
In the coffee sector, the former CS reiterated that the Ministry has developed reforms under the leadership of Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, which have opened up the payment of coffee farmers.
‘We also restructured Nairobi Coffee Exchange and separated multiplicity of roles since it is a sector that has always been targeted by cartels,’ he added.
Chelugui also implored that they have been able to establish the Hustler Fund, which has served 22 million deserving Kenyans, who have fallen prey to predatory lenders.
He urged CS Oparanya to lobby for partnerships and enhance the ticket amount of the Hustler Fund, to make more significant achievements.
Source: Kenya News Agency