Address by Prof. Kamau Ngamau, the Vice-Chancellor of the Co-operative University of Kenya During the 6th Annual Kenya Diaspora Homecoming Convention
SUMMARY OF VC’s ADDRESS TO KENYA DIASPORA ALLIANCE (KDA) ANNUAL HOMECOMING CONVENTION, 2019 The Co-operative University of Kenya (CUK) is a Chartered Public University with a special niche to provide research, training and community engagement in the Co-operative sector and associated economies in Kenya and the region. CUK provides a variety of services including baseline surveys prior to project initiation, pre Co-operative training to people intending to form any type of Co-operative enterprises, feasibility studies, development of Co-operative By-Laws, facilitation of strategic planning processes, development of statutory and non-statutory policies to guide operations of Co-operatives, CUK-Certified Short Courses for Board and Managers of Co-operative enterprises, customer-service surveys, data collection and analysis, etc. The CUK would be happy to partner with the Kenya Diaspora Alliance (KDA) to stimulate and consolidate diaspora participation in the socio-economic growth of Kenya and beyond through research, training and community engagement in diverse areas mainly through the Co-operative business model including the current 17 Diaspora SACCOs and Investment groups. The CUK would like to subscribe regularly as a KDA partner and exhibit at your annual events based on mutually beneficial arrangements such as a Memorandum of Understanding between the Kenya Diaspora Alliance and the Co-operative University of Kenya. ADDRESS BY PROF. KAMAU NGAMAU, THE VICE-CHANCELLOR OF THE CO-OPERATIVE UNIVERSITY OF KENYA DURING THE 6TH ANNUAL KENYA DIASPORA HOMECOMING CONVENTION AT THE OLE SERENI HOTEL, NAIROBI, 17TH – 19TH DECEMBER, 2019. “PROSPECTS FOR THE CO-OPERATIVE UNIVERSITY TO SUPPORT DIASPORA CO-OPERATIVES AND INVESTMENT CLUBS FOR PROFITABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY” Dr. Shem Ochuodho, the President of Kenya Diaspora Alliance (KDA), KDA members present, Diaspora Investment Club President and members present, Invited Guests, All protocols observed, Thank you for inviting me as a Guest Speaker at your 6th Annual Kenya Diaspora Homecoming Convention. Karibuni nyumbani. Mr. President, allow me to state from the onset that from the academia I feel privileged to address this important gathering knowing that the diaspora and universities like ours share common values of universality of knowledge, opportunities and partnership building for meaningful development. The Co-operative University of Kenya (CUK) sees limitless opportunities for collaboration with the Kenya Diaspora Alliance (KDA), the Diaspora Investment Club and the Diaspora Co-operatives in sensitisation of members on unexploited opportunities and capacity building of managers and board members to ensure profitability and sustainability of Diaspora investments in Kenya. Mr. President, Perhaps we all know that unlike in the 1990’s when some of us studied, lived and worked outside Kenya without organised networks with other Kenyans living in the diaspora, it is absolutely important to for me to start by congratulating all the 250,000 plus KDA members who have established over 40 associations of Kenyans abroad. It is very encouraging to note that the voice of Kenyans living in the Diaspora becomes louder and more listened to with time and there is steady progress towards significant integration of the Kenyan diaspora into the national development agenda. This is the natural thing to do given that Kenyans living in the diaspora are citizens of Kenya, have family and or relatives in Kenya and continue to remit colossal amounts of money in investments and support to their family. It is important to recognise the contribution of Kenyans in the diaspora in terms of scholarship, intellectual property, investments abroad and at home, annual remittances amounting to about KES 300 Million annually (2.8M USD), support to family and relatives back home, marketing Kenya abroad, shaping public opinion at home and abroad. Mr. President, members, guests, ladies and gentlemen. Allow me to state that The Co-operative University of Kenya (CUK) is one of the over 30 Chartered Public Universities in Kenya. The CUK serves a very unique niche of the Co-operative sector in which Kenyans living in many countries around the world have invested heavily through 17 Diaspora SACCOs and many Investment Clubs. The University has a unique mandate to offer co-operative education, research and training for various categories of personnel of the co-operative movement, government officers and the general public to serve as a centre of academic excellence in the region. The Co-operative University of Kenya is therefore critical in building the capacity of the co-operative movement which is key in the realisation of all four pillars of the Big Four Agenda – Affordable Housing, Universal Health Coverage, Food and Nutrition Security and Manufacturing as well as the Kenya vision 2030. The University is therefore working closely with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives and with the co-operative movement to make this a reality. Currently, co-operatives contribute about 45% of Kenya’s GDP and are the 2nd largest employer in the country. The Co-operative business model has been successfully used in Kenya to build very successful investments in agribusiness (mainly dairy, coffee and horticulture), finance (SACCOs, banks and insurance), housing and services. From its humble beginnings as the East African School of Cooperation in 1952 serving Kenya, Uganda and the then Tanganyika, the CUK has accumulated a great deal of knowledge, expertise and experience in providing excellent services to make Co-operative enterprises and pre Co-operative organisations deliver value to their members in a sustainable manner. The CUK supports Co-operative enterprises and associated economies in Kenya and the region through research, training and community engagement. CUK provides a variety of services and products that include but not limited to: Baseline surveys prior to project initiation; Pre-Co-operative training to people intending to form any type of Co-operative enterprise; Feasibility studies to determine the socio-economic viability of the intended enterprise; Development of Co-operative By-Laws; Facilitation of strategic planning processes; Development of statutory and non-statutory policies to guide operations of Co-operatives; Customer-service surveys; Data collection and analysis; and, In-house tailor-made courses for Board, Staff and Members. Starting January 2020, the CUK will offer modular CUK-Certified Short Courses for Board and Managers of Co-operative enterprises and also organize stakeholder consultative forums. I take this opportunity to invite you all to the CUK Annual Conference that will be held on 23 – 24, March, 2020 at the CUK Main Campus in Karen under the theme “Co-operatives in a