NOVEMBER 2018

GLOBAL UPDATES
KENYA
Obituary: Tributes to Stanley Muchiri, former president of ICA Africa
The co-operative movement is mourning
the loss of one of the most influential
co-operative leaders in Africa, Stanley
Charles Muchiri, who passed away on
6 October at the age of 72.
A former president of the International
Co-operative Alliance’s regional office for
Africa (ICA Africa), Mr Muchiri was first
elected in 2003.
Under his mandate, the ICA held its
2013 Global Conference and General
Assembly in Cape Town. It was the
first time the event was held on the
continent, a decision welcomed by
Mr Muchiri.
At the time of his death, he was attending
the Ministerial Conference of ICA Africa.
He had announced his retirement from
the ICA board on 3 October and attended
a celebratory dinner in his honour, where
he delivered a speech about the African
co-operative movement.
A minute’s silence was held for Mr
Muchiri at the ICA’s general assembly in
Buenos Aires on 21 October.
Mr Muchiri dedicated four decades
to Kenya’s co-operative development.
He joined the movement as a general
manager of Murang’a Farmers District
Co-operative Union in 1974, which he
helped grow to one of the most successful
coffee co-operative unions in Kenya.
In 1986 he was elected as a director
of the Co-operative Bank of Kenya. He
served as vice chair of the bank from 1993
and chair from 1974, and stood down
2017 after reaching the retirement age.
Since 2003, he was a vice president of the
International Co-operative Alliance.
p Stanley Muchiri passed away on 6 October
Announcing Mr Muchiri’s death, chair
of the Cooperative Bank of Kenya, John
Murugu, paid tribute to his legacy.
“We mourn the passing of an icon in
the co-operative movement,” he said.
“Mr Muchiri has been an outstanding
champion and pillar of Kenya’s cooperative
movement which he served for
over four decades.
“His dedicated service to the movement
saw him assume greater responsibilities
to serve in leadership positions in nearly
every key co-operative organisation in
Kenya, in Africa and the world.
“We send our heartfelt condolences to
Mr Muchiri’s family and friends.”
ICA Africa president Japheth Magomere
praised Mr Muchiri for his role in uniting
the co-op movement’s voice in Africa.
He said: “Mr Muchiri was an illustrious
co-operator, who served the Alliance
Africa for 14 years. He took the helm of this
organisation in 2004 when the two sub
regional offices of the then International
Co-operative Alliance Africa were merged
to form one continental office in Nairobi.
“As we celebrate the life of a hero,
the Alliance Africa extends heartfelt
sympathy to the family and friends of
the late Mr Stanley Charles Muchiri. We
join the family and friends in mourning a
departed co-operative icon in Africa.”
Mr Muchiri is survived by wife Jerusha
Muthoni, a son and four daughters.
USA
Volts and votes: Co-ops in registration push
Electric co-op body NRECA is encouraging
US citizens to register to vote in
November’s midterm elections.
Co-ops Vote is a non-partisan project
to inform its members on the key issues
facing electric co-ops and encourage them
to vote and support their co-ops and their
communities when they go to the polls.
The main goal of the campaign is to
boost voter turnout in co-operative areas,
making sure that consumer-members
exercise their right to vote. In collaboration
with states and local co-ops, Co-ops Vote
works to educate and engage candidates
and voters on issues such as expanding
broadband in rural America, ensuring
continued access to reliable electricity
and promoting the work of co-ops.
“More co-ops than ever are involved
in grassroots voter activity,” said Laura
Vogel, NRECA’s senior adviser on politics.
“Rural communities are recognising
that voting is the easiest way to start a
relationship with an elected official.”
The project supports policies that will
modernise America’s energy supply in a
way that keeps costs affordable, promotes
system reliability and avoids imposing
undue burdens on the system.
It also encourages voters to have
an active voice in the community, and
promotes the democratic system of
governance for all American institutions.
NOVEMBER 2018 | 13