In the heart of Mulango Ward, Kitui County, there is a story of entrepreneurship and community empowerment that can be traced back to 2013.
It was born out of the common ambition of a group of poultry farmers who recognized what collective action could do.
With nothing but a dream and few resources, they banded together to form the Table Banking Group.
Farmers pooled their savings and resources to strengthen their fledgling poultry farming operations.
Little did they know that this humble endeavor would grow into something big within just five years.
The purpose was to collect chickens from farmers and sell them in bulk.
Group chairman N'Golo Moutier said the cooperative started with one chicken collection center in Kitui town. Customers would come here to buy chickens, or even have their birds slaughtered.
By that time, the sacco had 40 registered poultry traders. Members saved or borrowed money from the organization to finance their chicken trade.
As membership numbers increased and aspirations expanded, the members of the group took the decisive decision to transform the cooperative into a full-fledged sacco.
In the midst of the dusty lanes and bustling markets of Kitui town, Kicopo Poultry Traders Sacco Ltd was born.
At the helm is Mr. Muti, a leader whose dedication and foresight have elevated Sacco to greatness.
With a collection center set up as the core of Kicopo, the sacco set out to collect and market birds on behalf of its members.
Unfortunately, Kicopo Sacco was constrained by a rudimentary marketing strategy and a lack of diversification of revenue sources.
Operating independently, they struggled to meet the rapidly increasing demand for their products.
Moreover, the absence of processing and value-adding factories stifled the growth and innovation potential of saccos.
Chicken ready for processing. Central to KICOPO's success was the opening of a modern slaughterhouse.
Photo credit: pool
However, adversity became a catalyst for change.
To chart a new path, Muti and his fellow Kikopo pioneers decided to redefine their approach.
They seized the opportunity presented by the National Agriculture and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP) and envisioned it as a lifeline to further their aspirations.
This activity was funded by the World Bank and the Government of Kenya.
Established in 2018 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the main objective of the scheme was to help improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
With NARIGP's support, Kicopo has been strengthened and transformed with an injection of capital and expertise.
“We learned about the support NARIGP was giving to farmers and saw an opportunity to get help. We created a concept note on our proposed solution and shared it,” said Mutie. says.
Through planning and determination, they secured more funding to open a modern processor.
Under the guidance of mentors and industry experts, Kicopo members received further training.
From managing slaughterhouses to honing their marketing skills, they have become powerful players in the poultry industry.
By 2022, Kikopo had evolved into a huge company, boasting a network of over 5,800 farmers and 226 poultry groups.
Through strategic expansion, the sacco has built a number of impressive aggregation centers, breathing new life into rural communities.
Central to Sacco's success was the opening of a slaughterhouse capable of processing 1,000 birds each day.
Kikopo carved out a niche in the market with a number of value-added products such as dressed chicken, juicy gizzards and cut meat, commanding premium prices.
Saccos have also embraced technology for growth purposes.
