27/09/2025
CDP Manifesto: Empowering Cooperatives for Economic Transformation
The Cooperative Development Party (CDP) has placed cooperatives at the center of Kenya’s economic transformation. By supporting cooperative and mutual enterprises through progressive policies at both the national and county levels, CDP envisions a vibrant grassroots economy that uplifts millions of Kenyans.
With over 17 million Kenyans directly involved in cooperatives, the sector already employs more than one million people and generates over Ksh. 500 billion annually. Unlike profit-driven corporations, cooperatives focus on empowering their members, ensuring that wealth is distributed fairly at the community level. Strengthening this sector therefore creates jobs, boosts household incomes, and reduces poverty.
At the county level, CDP calls for mandatory investment of at least Ksh. 300 million annually to support cooperative development. This funding will not only enhance agricultural productivity and local enterprises but also promote savings and investments, enabling rural communities to become economically self-reliant.
Furthermore, CDP seeks to transform cooperatives into drivers of national growth by integrating them into industrial manufacturing, thereby shifting focus from mere credit and savings to production of goods and services. This industrial approach will enhance value addition, expand markets, and increase exports.
Through reforms and regulation, CDP will streamline cooperative management, opening up greater opportunities for members to access public contracts and regional trade. The establishment of a Kenya Export-Import Investment Bank will give entrepreneurs the financial muscle to compete and execute mega projects abroad, positioning Kenya as a strong player in African and global trade.
In essence, CDP’s cooperative-centered agenda is not just about policy it is about building an inclusive economy, where prosperity begins at the grassroots and radiates to the national stage.
