The Department of Trade, Gender, and Youth Affairs has rolled out an awareness campaign aimed at sensitizing the public on the formation of cooperative societies.

Director for Cooperatives Shemmy Ebulon explained that the campaign targeted the public, and will focus on the women and youth engaged in commercial activities. The aim of the initiative is to provide those targeted with information on the benefits of joining existing SACCOs or forming new ones as tools for economic empowerment.

Speaking today during the inaugural sensitization held at the Lodwar Fresh Produce Market, Director Ebulon said that cooperatives had the advantage of creating platforms for access to huge capital, locking out middlemen, and opening up markets.

She added that cooperatives also had the advantage of cultivating the savings culture and providing access to cheaper credit as compared to commercial sources hence the need for embracing them.

Traders in the market expressed interest and formed an Interim Committee to assist them in navigating through the formation of a new cooperative in the near future.

Director Ebulon said that the County Government was ready to support the new entrants with respect to navigating the legal requirements and other compliance issues.

Deputy Director for Trade Wilson Ejiye and Cooperatives officers Maiche Naphtali, Erus Macdonald, and Sarah Arukudi were present.