Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago has challenged the National Assembly to drop proposed changes in the Cooperative Societies Act and the Sacco Societies Act, saying that it is against the spirit of the cooperative movement in the country.
Mandago says the changes if approved would kill the many revived cooperatives in the country more so in Uasin Gishu where the administration has chosen cooperatives movement as a driver in uplifting the livelihoods of its residents.
Speaking during a meeting with cooperatives officials in Eldoret, Mandago directed his government’s department of Cooperatives in conjunction with the legal department to draft a petition to parliament to have the proposed amendment quashed so as to give room for involving stakeholders in drafting the right bill.
The vocal Jubilee governor enumerated reasons of his rejection, as the amendment ought to have been subjected to public participation before being introduced in parliament.
"Cooperative is a devolved function and by law, it should have gone to the Senate as a protector of devolution,” said the furious Mandago, Tuesday.
The County boss further added that the Council of Governors (CoG) should have been involved in drafting the amendment bill as they are the major stakeholders in devolution and by extension the running and affairs of cooperatives.
“I seat in the Agriculture and Cooperatives Committee in the council but I can tell you this never came to our committee for discussion,” added Mandago.
Part of the bill seeks to amend Section two of the Co-operative Societies Act by introducing a new definition by virtue of seeking to amend Section 17 of the Act by making the existing provision to be sub-section which by way of an ordinary resolution approved by the Cabinet Secretary, members can resolve to create a class of members referred to as “Social Impact Members”.
These members shall not be subject to the primary and normal requirement demanding that each member has to subscribe and purchase a given minimum number of shares in a Co-operative society the member wishes to be admitted into membership.