On Saturday, May 3, 2025, students from the Master of Management in Agribusiness (MMA) program at Strathmore University Business School (SBS) undertook a field visit to GDC SACCO Ltd. in Githunguri, Kiambu County. Organized in partnership with the Strathmore Agribusiness and Innovation Centre (SAFIC), the visit aimed to bridge academic learning with real-world agribusiness experiences, giving students an opportunity to explore how cooperatives can drive rural development and sustainable food systems. GDC SACCO Ltd., established in 2003, has grown from a modest membership base to a Tier 1 SACCO with assets surpassing KShs. 5 billion (US$ 38 million) as of 2024. The SACCO primarily serves dairy farmers affiliated with the Githunguri Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society, offering a range of financial products tailored to the needs of its members.
During the visit, Dr. Charles Kioko, the Chief Executive Officer of GDC SACCO, a presidential awardee, who has received Head of State Commendation (HSC), shared insights into the SACCO’s journey and its role in supporting the local farming community. He emphasized the importance of good governance across the cooperative ecosystem and its players, professionalism, and community integration in achieving sustainable growth.
The visit was facilitated by SAFIC, a leading Africa Center of Excellence domiciled at SBS, focused on fostering sustainable agribusiness through education, research, and community engagement. SAFIC’s mission is to equip future agribusiness leaders with practical exposure to real-life innovations and scalable models that address food security, climate resilience, and rural livelihoods. The visit was coordinated by Dr. David Mathuva as part of the experiential learning embedded in the Cooperative Organization and Management in the MMA program.
Through SAFIC’s industry linkages, the students gained firsthand exposure to how cooperatives like GDC SACCO serve as financial engines in agricultural value chains. SAFIC continues to play a pivotal role in ensuring that MMA students are not only well-informed academically but also practically equipped to lead and innovate in Africa’s agribusiness sector.
Key Takeaways
- Product Diversification: GDC SACCO offers over ten financial products, including livestock insurance, asset financing, education loans, housing credit, and welfare packages, catering to the diverse needs of its members.
- Governance and Professionalism: The SACCO operates under a democratic governance structure, ensuring transparency and accountability. Dr. Kioko highlighted that “Governance” is central to their success.
- Community Integration: By embedding itself within the dairy value chain encompassing milk production, processing, and marketing the SACCO has fostered a strong sense of community and shared values among its members.
The visit provided the MMA students with valuable insights into the practical applications of cooperative principles in agribusiness. Observing GDC SACCO’s operations underscored the potential of cooperatives to serve as catalysts for economic development and social transformation in agricultural communities.
GDC SACCO exemplifies how cooperatives can effectively support agricultural communities through tailored financial services, strong governance, and community integration. For the MMA students, the visit was not only educational but also inspiring, highlighting the pivotal role cooperatives play in advancing agribusiness and community development in Kenya and beyond.