By Meshack Ngangi

November 11, 2024

The Second Co-operative Movement Stakeholders’ Annual Conference and the Platform Cooperativism Conference 2024 were co-organized by the Ministry of Co-operatives and MSMEs Development, The Co-operative University of Kenya, and the Platform Cooperativism Consortium through a Joint Co-operative Conference 2024 Organizing Committee that was chaired by our Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kamau Ngamau, PhD, EBS. The five-day Conference presented a unique touch to co-operatives with discussions and deliberations geared towards promoting the adoption of digital technologies in co-operative sector operations. Cognizant of the global shift towards digitalization, information technology, and vast changes associated with technological dynamics, the co-operative movement enthusiasts at the Conference congregated at Sorova Whitesands Beach Resort and Spa in Mombasa County between Monday, 4th November 2024 and Friday, 8th November 2024, to chart a way forward in the race to transform the sector. 

The Conference was structured into two phases, with the first two of five days reserved for the Second Co-operative Movement Stakeholders’ Annual Conference, which brought together the crucial players in Kenya’s expansive co-operative movement to deliberate on infusing technology into the core of the country’s co-operative space. Conference participants from Kenya’s co-operative spectrum met to strategize and preempt the theme, Digital Africa Rising, with key insights and discussions touching on revolutionizing the sector’s adoption of digital technologies. The last three Joint Conference days, November 6th, 7th, and 8th, 2024, were devoted to an international audience featuring delegates of the Platform Cooperativism Consortium from over thirty-three countries globally who discussed the scientific perspectives and shared experiential elements of platform co-operatives.

The official opening ceremony for the 2nd Co-operative Movement Stakeholders’ Annual Conference and the Platform Cooperativism Consortium Conference 2024 was graced by Principal Secretary of the State Department for Co-operatives, Mr. Patrick Kilemi, who represented the Chief Guest, Hon. Wycliffe A. Oparanya, FCPA, E.G.H., Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Co-operatives and MSMEs Development. In his opening remarks, the Chief Guest reiterated that digital transformation is essential for realizing the African Union Agenda 2063, and ensuring that co-operative movements are digitized and digitalized is a key milestone worth exploring.

“More than 400 million of Africa’s population utilize the internet, and more than 600 million people in the continent have access to smartphones, hence making it ultimately needful to infuse and adopt digital technologies in the operations of co-operatives to unlock the economic potential of Kenya, Africa, and the globe,” the Principal Secretary noted.

The ever-evolving digital environment is challenging traditional co-operative models; hence, the Chief Guest urged the delegates, participants, and stakeholders in the co-operative movement to take the lead in realizing our country’s and the continent’s future by making viable deliberations and resolutions of the Joint Co-operative Conference 2024.

Under the theme “Digital Africa Rising,” the University reiterated its commitment to drive deliberate efforts to usher in a digital transformation future. This is a crucial element in a broader discussion and targeted strategies for attaining social justice that align with co-operative principles and values to actualize and realize advancements in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, and technology. Hon. Victor Oyegoke, the Representative of the Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture & Food Security, Federal Republic of Nigeria, expressed that the theme of this conference resonates deeply with Nigeria’s vision for agricultural development and recognizes the critical role of digital technologies in enhancing productivity, improving market access, and promoting inclusive growth. Speaking at the conference’s opening ceremony, Hon. Oyegoke noted that Africa’s co-operative movement has been a cornerstone of economic development, and I firmly believe that platform co-operatives can unlock new opportunities for our communities.

Local and international delegates and participants from over 33 countries gained transformative insights that inculcated real-life examples and experiences of co-operators across the globe. The conference’s thematic areas informed discourses on the latest trends and best practices in co-operative development. These included Digitization and Digitalization in Co-operatives, Digital Technologies to enhance Co-operative Activities, Technology and Climate Change, Technology and Inclusivity, Leadership and governance of co-operatives in a digitized environment, The place of Platform Co-operatives in Co-operative Development, and Legal, regulatory and compliance issues in the era of digitization. Speaking at the conference, Prof. Trebor Scholz, the founding director of the Platform Cooperativism Consortium, acclaimed that Platform Cooperatives in the Digital Economy like Smart and Stocksy generate annual revenues of approximately $200 million and $18 million, respectively, thereby making it increasingly necessary for the discussion revolving around the theme of the conference.

The Joint Co-operative Conference 2024 provided a unique networking opportunity. Participants connected with industry leaders, policymakers, and potential partners from the Country and worldwide, giving the conference a global outlook and a world-class experience.

“The Second Co-operative Movement Stakeholders’ Annual Conference and the Platform Cooperativism Consortium Conference 2024 was a resounding achievement that attracted over delegates and participants representing the Ministry of Co-operatives and MSMEs Development, County Governments, Co-operative Societies, National Co-operative Organizations and Development Partners, and from over 33 counties globally” pointed out Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kamau Ngamau, PhD, EBS.

Prof. Ngamau expressed that the diversity of ideas and experiences shared from both local and international viewpoints showcased a promising future for Kenya’s co-operative movement and a better future for the global economies, outlining the limitless potential of integrating technology into the operations of co-operatives towards attaining the economic empowerment of our times.

“The profound success of the Joint Co-operative Conference 2024 could only be attributed to the definitive spirit of co-operators, their dedication, and firm belief that the co-operative movement is the new game-changing economic transformation model that empowers communities to achieve economic freedom,” remarked Prof. Esther Gicheru (Mrs.), OGW.

Additionally, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Finance, Planning, and Administration) outlined that the 21st Century is characterized by ever-changing technological developments, the fast-rising influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and a global shift towards the Internet of Things with the coming of the 5th Generation (5G) network. Such instances spark curiosity in the co-operative movement to introspect the impact of the digital era on co-operatives in Kenya, Africa, and globally. 

The Second Co-operative Movement Stakeholder’s Annual Conference and the Platform Cooperativism Consortium Conference 2024 identified opportunities to further enhance and re-invent the place of co-operatives in Kenya’s socio-economic development informed by global perspectives.

Prof. Isaac Nyamongo, MBS, ascertained, “The carefully curated thematic areas of the 2024 Conference discourses brought turn-about deliberations on digital transformation in the co-operative sector and related economies. Youths and women inclusion in the co-operative movement requires a paradigm shift towards digitizing and digitalizing the entire co-operative business model.”

This Joint Co-operative Conference 2024 acted as a precursor for 2025, which the United Nations declared as the International Year of Co-operatives, and considering the critical role digitalization plays, co-operatives must accelerate the momentum to embrace technology and demonstrate their contribution to Sustainable Development Goals and Kenya’s Vision 2030. The curated topical areas discussed in this joint conference spoke to the heart of the government of Kenya’s Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which provides the infrastructure for a digital superhighway, an opportunity for co-operatives to contribute substantially to the economic transformation of our country. The digital superhighway agenda of the Government seeks to create new opportunities for a robust tech industry, rejuvenating and appealing to the needs of youths to join the co-operative movement.

The five-day-long Joint Co-operative Conference 2024 was officially closed by our University Council Chairperson, Dr. Jeremy Bundi, who outlined deliberate efforts and actionable resolutions the University has made and continues to make as the voice of reason and the intellectual arm of the co-operative movement in Kenya, Africa, and globally. 

“The University shall perpetually engage in strategic initiatives to keep bettering the co-operative sector by walking the talk and capacity-building the Kenyan credit unions to ride on the possibilities of digital technologies, thereby outliving the theme of this year’s conference, Digital Africa Rising,” reassured Dr. Jeremy Bundi.