Turkana First Lady Launches SACCO to Empower Women

By Turkana Correspondent 

Turkana County First Lady, Lilian Ekamais, has called on women to join cooperative societies as a means of achieving economic empowerment. 

She made the appeal during the launch of the "Aberu Aloima SACCO" in Namoruputh, where she emphasized the role of cooperatives in improving financial independence and providing access to loans and savings.

Ekamais encouraged women to pool resources, start businesses, and take advantage of affordable loans through SACCOs.

"Cooperatives are a step toward empowering women in Turkana," she said.

The launch of Aberu Aloima SACCO is seen as an important development for the region’s economic growth. The First Lady expressed confidence in the ability of the newly elected management and supervisory committees to lead the SACCO effectively.

Shemmy Ebulon, the Director of Cooperatives and Marketing, spoke about the importance of compliance with cooperative regulations. He stressed that both the leadership and members must adopt a savings culture and use loans to invest in business ventures. 

"The success of the SACCO depends on effective governance and adherence to cooperative laws," Ebulon said.

Cooperative officers, including Ekipor Sofari, Maureen Awoi, and James Akorot, provided the new SACCO leadership with guidance on opportunities for support from the county government, financial institutions, and regulatory authorities.

The launch is part of a broader effort by the county to promote cooperative societies as drivers of economic growth. The Directorate of Cooperatives and Marketing has recently issued certificates to several SACCOs, indicating increasing activity in the sector.

Cooperatives have long been a significant part of Kenya's economy. There are over 22,000 registered SACCOs, which contribute about 45% of the national GDP. They have mobilized over Ksh. 1.5 trillion in savings and issued loans worth more than Ksh. 500 billion, supporting thousands of Kenyans in business, education, and property investment.

The launch of Aberu Aloima SACCO is expected to inspire more women in the region to join cooperatives and use them to enhance their economic prospects.