A CRITICAL AND CONCRETE EVALUATION ON STATE LIBERALISATION ON COOPERATIVES IN KENYA
FOCUS ON THE COOPERATIVE LEGISLATION PRACTICES POLICIES AND REFORMS UP TO DATE
Stephen Mudibo
This document is submitted for the continuous assessment of the Law of business association 2
INTRODUCTION
The policy framework paper on Economic reforms of 1996 was a major beacon to be established on the fast track on the economy under the then president Daniel Moi. The reforms aimed at the eradication of poverty and unemployment challenges through substantial recovery and improvement or productivity of investment recognizing the private sector as the main engine of growth.
In discussing the issues of the liberalization of cooperative policies practices and legislation its clear that the societies have both successes and failures.
Successes of the liberalization of cooperatives up to date
To the cooperative movement, liberalization measures were put in place with a view to create commercially autonomous member-based cooperatives that would be democratically and professionally managed; self-controlled; and self-reliant. To this effect in 1997 government published Sessional Paper No. 6 of 1997 on “Co-operatives in a Liberalized Economic Environment” to provide the new policy framework for the necessary reforms.
To date the role of the government was redefined from control to regulatory and facilitative in nature. The Ministry of Co-operative Development duties were confined to registration and liquidation of co-operative societies; enforcement of the Co-operative Societies Act; formulation of co-operative policy; advisory and creation of conducive environment for co-operative growth and development; registration of co-operative audits; and carrying out of inquiries, investigations and inspections which is still applicable today.
Successfully also was the enforcement of co-operative principles of voluntary and open
Membership; democratic