PS Kilemi Rallies Cooperative Leaders as Shirika DT Sacco Charts Bold Growth Path at 57th AGM By Stanley Wacuka The Principal Secretary for the State Department for Cooperatives, Patrick Kilemi, joined members and delegates of Shirika DT Sacco Society for their 57th Annual Delegates Meeting held at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development in Nairobi. The annual gathering was more than a statutory meeting— it was a celebration of resilience, sound governance, and a renewed commitment to the cooperative movement in Kenya.
For 57 years, Shirika DT Sacco has exemplified what disciplined governance, prudent f inancial management, and accountability to members should look like within the cooperative sector. Maintaining expenses below operational 25 percent of earnings, enforcing strict compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), sustaining strong capital adequacy and liquidity ratios, and paying dividends strictly from surplus and retained earnings are hallmarks of a Sacco that understands sustainability.
Founded by officers who regulate and supervise the sector, Shirika DT Sacco continues to set the benchmark for integrity and performance. Its membership— drawn largely from professionals within the cooperative regulatory ecosystem—places it in a unique position to model best practice.
In his challenged address, PS Kilemi officers from the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs Development-Kenya and the Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA) who are members of the Sacco to ensure that the same high standards practiced at Shirika are reflected in the cooperatives they oversee across the country.
“Shirika must remain the gold standard. The discipline you demonstrate here should be the discipline you demand across the entire sector,” he emphasized. A key highlight at the AGM was the unveiling of the Sacco’s ambitious 2025–2029 Strategic Plan. The roadmap sets a bold target to grow member deposits from KSh 4.4 billion to over KSh 7 billion within f ive years. The strategy focuses on sustainable growth, digital risk services, enhanced strengthened management frameworks, and deeper member engagement. With its strong capital base and prudent dividend policy, the Sacco is well-positioned to scale without compromising financial stability.
The projected growth reflects confidence not only in the Sacco’s internal governance systems but also in the broader reforms being implemented across the cooperative movement. The Government remains firm in strengthening governance across the cooperative sector to safeguard members’ funds and secure the future of the movement. Through institutions such as KUSCCO Ltd, New KPCU PLC, Co-op Bank Kenya, New Kenya Cooperative Creameries, and The Co-operative University of Kenya, the State Department continues to drive reforms aimed at restoring confidence, enhancing professionalism, and modernizing cooperative enterprises. PS Kilemi reaffirmed that strengthening oversight, enforcing compliance, and building institutional top capacity remain priorities under the State Department for Cooperatives.
As Shirika DT Sacco steps into its next strategic cycle, its journey mirrors the aspirations of Kenya’s wider cooperative movement— growth anchored in integrity, innovation grounded in prudence, and prosperity built on member trust. The 57th Annual Delegates Meeting was not merely a review of performance.
It was a reaffirmation that when governance is sound and accountability is non-negotiable, cooperatives can remain one of the most powerful vehicles for economic empowerment in Kenya. With a bold five-year strategy and continued government support, Shirika DT Sacco appears poised not only to grow its balance sheet but also to deepen its legacy as a standard-bearer in the cooperative sector
