Co-operatives CS Wycliffe Oparanya has urged residents of Western to reject the culture of handouts, saying it has entrenched poverty.
Oparanya said exchanging votes for handouts had weakened leadership, frustrated economic empowerment and development in the region.
He spoke during a consultative meeting with members of Shirikiana Sacco at Enyaita ACK Church in Ebusakami, Luanda subcounty.
“This culture of people begging for handouts should stop. Let us ask for big things that will empower you and your family and change your lives,” he said.
The CS urged residents to instead take advantage of empowerment programmes being implemented by President William Ruto’s administration, including the revival of coffee farming, the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme and the Hustler Fund.
“Let us stop begging for handouts and instead make good use of empowerment initiatives being offered by President William Ruto’s government to empower yourselves,” Oparanya said.
He said Shirikiana Sacco was established to help improve the economic fortunes of communities in Western Kenya through the co-operative movement.
“I have travelled around the country as a CS and seen how other communities are leveraging the co-operative movement to empower themselves. That is why I initiated Shirikiana Sacco so that our people can benefit,” he said.
Oparanya also clarified that he was not urging farmers in Western Kenya to abandon sugarcane farming in favour of coffee, but encouraging them to diversify their farming activities to increase household incomes.
“We can’t ask our people to abandon cane farming because we have companies like West Kenya, Butali, Nzoia and Mumias which are employing our people. We are telling our farmers to plant coffee alongside cane and maize,” he said.
Turning to politics, Oparanya called on residents to register as voters in large numbers and remain united ahead of the 2027 General Election.
He said it was regrettable that despite Western Kenya being the country’s second-largest population bloc after the Central region, it had failed to convert its numbers into meaningful political and economic influence.
“Western region is the second largest community in numbers after Central, but we have failed to translate the figures into a significant advantage to get what we want as a community. We must register in large numbers, remain united and vote wisely in 2027,” he said.
Oparanya said strong grassroots leadership is the foundation of every successful democracy, adding that communities can better shape their future through unity, civic participation and the ballot.
He said a united, peaceful and politically engaged citizenry is essential for protecting democracy, driving development and creating more opportunities for all Kenyans.
“We reaffirmed our commitment to mobilising voter registration and encouraging greater participation in the democratic process ahead of the 2027 General Election,” Oparanya said.
