In order to break into the complex local and international markets, Kenyan are increasingly finding out that forming or joining co-operatives helps them grow their incomes. This is because of the strength in numbers that teamwork brings hence sustainably improving the lives by transforming the market systems.
For both Kakamega and Narok CETICs, being the umbrella organizations serving affiliated cooperatives, their main objective is to offer Cooperative Education, Training and information to their affiliated cooperatives in their Kakamega and Narok Counties respectively and even beyond. To do so successfully, it became necessary to incorporate other cooperatives in their membership, noting that cooperatives that interrelate with each other, create sustainable business models that benefit members. Therefore, supporting the cooperative principle of “Co-operation among Cooperatives”
As the year 2022 unfolded, DGRV/GKCD together with the CETICs set for a mission of marketing both Kakamega CETIC and Narok CETIC with an objective of bringing in more members to the CETICs. The growth of these two organizations- Kakamega and Narok CETICs needed more marketing activities that leave lasting impact on; the benefit of being members of the CETICs and patronizing the CETIC’s products.
To strengthen the capacities of the CETIC Managers in this area, the project (DGRV/GKCD) supported them through practical marketing pitch. This was done through marketing visits to samples prospective cooperatives in both the CETICs, done together with the project team members.
In Kakamega CETIC, the marketing exercise was carried out for 3 consecutive days from 1st to 3rd February, 2022. During the marketing visits, 8 cooperatives were visited namely; Kaiversity SACCO, Vihiga Dairy Co-operative Society, Hamisi Multi-purpose SACCO, Kitinda Dairy Co-operative Society, Namasa Star Women SACCO, Bumula Farmers’ Dairy Co-operative Society, Hema Women Group and Soy Herdsmen Farmers’ Co-operative Society.
Similarly, the marketing visits at CETIC Narok were conducted successfully for 3 days on 8th, 9th and 10th February, 2022 with 12 societies being reached namely; Golden Chance Sacco Society Ltd, Masai Mara Sacco Society Ltd, Narok South Poultry Co-operative Society Ltd, Health Partners Society Ltd, Sogoo Farmers’ Co-operative Society Ltd, Sagamian Joyful Co-operative Society Ltd, CIS Mara Co-operative Society Ltd, Nalepo Olepolos Co-operative Society Ltd, Oseketeti Lukile Co-operative Society Ltd , Malepu Co-operative Society Ltd, Siana Digital SACCO, Memiri Women Group/Masai Cultural Heritage Association.
During this exercise all the participants were taken through some of the services offered by the CETICs, information materials shared with them. The marketing of the CETICs and their products was successful. From the marketing pitch, more than 50% of the co-operatives visited expressed their willingness to partner with other cooperatives as CETIC members and expressed their interest in taking up their products.
For more information about the CETICs, please see the website links below;
