The Kenyan government has unveiled sweeping reforms targeting cooperative societies and ginneries in a bold move to rejuvenate the struggling cotton industry. Principal Secretary for Cooperatives, Patrick Kilemi, announced that the Cooperative Bill 2024currently before the Senate will eliminate corruption, mismanagement, and rogue cartels that have crippled the sector for decades.
Speaking from his office, PS Kilemi emphasized that the bill will introduce term limits for cooperative officials, enforce accountability, and eliminate “briefcase” individuals who exploit farmers. He said that widespread mismanagement had led to the collapse of many ginneries and cooperatives, forcing farmers to abandon cotton cultivation.
“The days of cartels and corrupt officials are numbered. The Cooperative Bill 2024 will bring long-awaited sanity and order into the cotton value chain,” Kilemi stated.
Farmers in cotton-growing regions such as Lamu, Busia, and Siaya have raised concerns about inflated prices of government-distributed cotton seeds, allegedly sold by corrupt cooperative officials. In response, the government is investing Ksh 1.5 billion to construct five new ginneries across key cotton-producing counties. One such facility is underway in Mpeketoni, Lamu, through a government partnership with Thika Cloth Mills. Another ginnery is being developed in Vapi, Coast region, to ease transportation challenges for farmers.
PS Kilemi reaffirmed President William Ruto’s commitment to reviving the cotton industry, which collapsed in the 1990s due to an influx of second-hand clothing (mitumba) and neglect of local textile manufacturing.
Farmers have lauded the initiative. “We need empowered cooperatives with close state supervision,” said Simon Ondolo from Busia. Lucy Kimani from Lamu added, “With this legislation, government investment, and private sector collaboration, the cotton industry appears set for a comeback.”
The Nambale Ginnery in Busia, once a vital cotton processing centre, is now a church after its machines were sold as scrap. New cooperative leaders are calling for government help to restore it.
Industry experts like Hesbon Olwenyi and Jack Onyango say the reforms could transform Kenya into a key cotton exporter, create jobs, and attract new markets. “This revival is long overdue,” Onyango said.
