Cooperatives stand as a cornerstone of sustainable business models in Kenya, driving significant social and economic transformation across the nation. According to Daniel Marube, chief executive of the Cooperative Alliance of Kenya and vice-chairman of Ushirika Council, the cooperative movement consistently uplifts the lives of Kenyans, particularly small-scale farmers, by enhancing incomes and fostering development in crucial sectors.

In the agricultural sector, cooperatives have been instrumental in improving food production through aggregation, processing, and value addition, ensuring farmers achieve both consumption sufficiency and increased earnings. For instance, Marube highlighted the coffee sector, where societies like Njuriga Coffee Society and Othaya Coffee Society in Nyeri have achieved record-high payments, providing their farmers with Sh172 and Sh158 per kilo of cherry, respectively. Such improved incomes directly enhance household livelihoods and overall quality of life for farming communities. In the dairy sector, Meru Dairy Cooperative Society serves as a testament to this impact, having recorded 195 million litres in milk production and facilitating an average of Sh900 million in monthly payments to farmers. Last year alone, Meru Dairy collected an average of 17 million litres per month, achieving a substantial turnover of Sh18.3 billion. Furthermore, Meru Dairy has provided stable and sustainable income for its farmers by maintaining consistent prices over the past three years, showcasing the direct and transformative effect of cooperatives on rural economies.

Beyond agriculture, cooperatives are increasingly influential in the housing sector, playing a leading role in providing affordable and decent housing in both urban and rural settings. A significant number of mortgages held in banks today have been made possible through deposits from cooperatives and Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs). Marube explained that the Kenya Mortgage Refinancing Company was established with an understanding of the pivotal role cooperatives play in making housing accessible to segments of society often priced out by conventional mortgage systems. Cooperatives are projected to contribute up to 25 percent of the affordable housing units nationwide, underscoring their critical role in addressing Kenya's national housing deficit.

Moreover, cooperatives and SACCOs are vital in financing various segments of the population, including women, youth, families, and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). By offering access to affordable, low-interest loans, these financial services have not only stimulated job creation but also empowered individuals to generate sustainable incomes. Marube emphasized that through inclusive financial solutions, cooperatives have been instrumental in lifting many out of extreme poverty, fostering more resilient and self-reliant communities. This impact is particularly profound in rural areas and under-resourced communities, including informal settlements, where economic opportunities are typically limited.

The collective efforts of cooperatives have led to the creation of over 750,000 direct and indirect jobs across various SACCOs, cooperatives, and corporate and daily value chains. An encouraging new development is the emergence of youth-led worker cooperatives, comprising skilled young professionals in sectors such as energy, construction, and engineering. By uniting under cooperative models, these young individuals collectively offer their services, significantly enhancing their bargaining power and ensuring greater sustainability for their ventures. The Cooperative Alliance of Kenya chief executive urged both national and county governments to acknowledge and support these youth-led initiatives by awarding them contracts and opportunities, thereby enabling them to earn income, build businesses, and make meaningful contributions to the national economy. Marube predicted that within the next decade, worker cooperatives have the potential to become one of the largest employers of young people in Kenya.