The Cooperative Movement in Kenya is over 14 million members’ strong. As a sector we embrace the “Whole-of-society-response” approach in mitigating against the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Co-operative sector, through the recently created Co-operative Corona-virus Response Committee (CCRC), has rolled out a “Co-op Kit”, an initiative that aims to support 500,000 vulnerable households, donated by members of the cooperative movement. The Response Committee has identified Tuskys Supermarkets as one of the suppliers of these “Co-op Kits”. We will leverage on their cost-benefit and wide branch network to help in the distribution of the “Co-op Kits” vouchers to the beneficiaries.The CCRC’s support to needy communities is done in collaboration with the National Emergency Response Committee (NERC).

The COVID-19 represents a threat to everybody in the county that goes beyond clinical challenges and has social and economic impacts that have brought loss of livelihoods. We are privy to the fact that most of the Kenyans are unable to put food on their table owing to this unprecedented pandemic.We intend to amass the potential of all co-operators in Kenya and we are looking forward to run this initiative for the next 6 months.

Today, the 9^th of June, 2020, we are launching the initiative with vouchers going to 5,000 vulnerable households identified from co-operative societies whose members have lost their incomes within Nairobi.

The effects of Covid-19 will continue to reverberate long after the virus is defeated. We therefore look at how best to retool and repurpose the cooperatives sector to ensure continuous sustainability. We appeal to all co-operators and the general public to continue adhering to the MoH guidelines. Kindly but continuously update the members through bulk SMS to forestall any panic withdrawals, particularly for those in SACCOs.

It is clear to all of us that we shall not be able to celebrate the annual Ushika Day in our traditional way on the 4^th of July this year. After due consultations with the Ushirika Council chairman, Mr. Magomere and the State Department of Cooperatives, it was resolved that, we appeal cooperative leadership across the country, to make donations of the Ushirika budgetary allocations in support of the vulnerable co-operators through the CCRC.

On 6^th of April 2020, the Commissioner for Co-operative Development released a circular which drew our attention to the 7^thUniversal Co-operative Principle, “Concern for Community” and appealed the cooperatives to compliment the government efforts in supporting the vulnerable communities as a result the Covid-19 pandemic.

I take this opportunity to most sincerely thank the individual cooperators, staff working in the cooperatives and the cooperative societies that have already responded to this noble call to support this initiative. Fellow cooperators, it is time to embrace one another and draw from each other’s strengths, united with one heart and one mind for the common good of humanity.  I therefore call upon every cooperative member, staff working in cooperative societies, cooperative leaders and the cooperative societies to generously contribute to this initiative.

Let us demonstrate our might of numbers by contributing whatever amount once or as many times possible to support the needy through this period.

Let us channel our support to the Co-operative Coronavirus Response Committee through:

Co-operative Covid-19 Response Fund

Co-operative Bank of Kenya

Upper Hill Branch

A/C No. 01143164029200

Or

Paybill No. 400222

Account No. 557473#Individual’s Name or Name of Society

Remember there is Life beyond COVID-19!

We shall Overcome! Stay Safe!

With warm Co-operative regards!

Francis Kamande, HSC.

Chairman- CCRC (For and on behalf of the Co-operative Corona-virus Response Committee)