Cak Chairman Macloud Malonza Joins Ica Global Board After Unanimous Election As Chair Of Ica Africa
By Fred Aminga Thursday, 17th September 2026
Photo courtesy: ICA
Co-operative Alliance of Kenya (CAK) chairman Macloud Malonza has been elected Vice President of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) Global for the 2026–2030 term, placing Kenya and Africa at the heart of the core of cooperative movement’s leadership.
Malonza was elected in September 16, 2026, during the ICA General Assembly at the Panama Convention Centre, where cooperative leaders and representatives from across the world gathered to elect the organisation’s leadership for the next four years.
His election makes him one of four regional vice presidents on the ICA Global Board. He will serve alongside Dr José Alves de Souza Neto of Cooperativas de las Américas, Dr Chandrapal Singh Yadav of ICA Asia-Pacific and Giuseppe Guerini of Cooperatives Europe.
Malonza’s elevation to the global leadership comes shortly after he was elected chairperson of ICA Africa in a decisive victory that underscored his standing within the continental cooperative movement. He secured all 65 votes cast, defeating Nigerian candidates Lawrence Bale and Ojo Oladayo Aindehinde, both of the Cooperative Federation of Nigeria.
The unanimous vote gave Malonza a strong mandate to lead the continental body at a time when cooperatives are increasingly being relied upon to expand access to financial services, support farmers, create jobs and connect underserved communities to markets.
His responsibilities will now span both the African and global cooperative movements. As ICA Africa chairperson and a member of the 30-member ICA Global Board, Malonza is expected to push regional priorities including agricultural value addition, greater inter-African cooperative trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area, youth employment and digital innovation in financial cooperatives.
For Kenya, his election marks another step in the country’s growing participation in international cooperative leadership. For Africa’s cooperative sector, it provides a platform to bring issues affecting member-owned enterprises on the continent into global policy discussions.
In his acceptance speech following his election to lead ICA Africa, Malonza had described the victory as a collective achievement rather than a personal triumph, saying the challenges facing the continent required stronger and more united cooperative solutions.
He pointed to youth unemployment, food insecurity, climate change, financial exclusion and inequality as some of the issues that cooperatives must help address, while pledging to champion stronger institutions, innovation and collaboration among African cooperative organisations.
Malonza has also emphasised the opportunities presented by the AfCFTA, arguing that greater cooperation among African cooperatives could strengthen their participation in regional trade and give the movement a stronger voice in global policy debates.
His global role comes as cooperatives continue to occupy an important place in economic and social development, with member-owned enterprises operating across sectors ranging from agriculture and finance to housing, employment and community services.
The ICA, which brings together cooperative organisations from around the world, provides a platform for the movement to share experiences, develop common positions and advocate for policies supporting the growth and sustainability of cooperatives.
Malonza brings decades of experience in Kenya’s cooperative sector. In addition to chairing CAK, he is chairman of Co-operative Bank Holdings and has held leadership positions in major cooperative institutions, including Harambee Sacco and Co-op Holdings Cooperative Society.
As he takes on the four-year global mandate, Malonza will be expected to balance the priorities of Africa’s diverse cooperative movement with the broader agenda of a global sector seeking to strengthen member-owned enterprises as vehicles for inclusive economic development and community resilience.