New Ica-africa Chair Malonza Urges Africa To Stop Exporting Raw Wealth And Importing Inflation

By Fred Aminga Thursday, 11^th June 2026

After securing a unanimous victory to lead Africa's cooperative movement, McLoud Malonza used his first address as Chairperson of the International Co-operative Alliance-Africa (ICA-Africa) to call for stronger regional supply chains and reduced dependence on imports, arguing that Africa's long-term prosperity depends on producing more of what it consumes.

Malonza, who chairs Co-operative Bank Holdings and the Co-operative Alliance of Kenya (CAK), was elected unopposed after securing all 65 votes cast during elections held in Maputo, Mozambique. He defeated two Nigerian contenders—Lawrence Bales and Ojo Oladayo Aindehinde, both from the Cooperative Federation of Nigeria—in a result that underscored growing confidence in Kenya's cooperative model.

His election places Kenya at the center of continental efforts to strengthen trade, financial inclusion and economic resilience through cooperative enterprises.

The polls were conducted during a high-level gathering of cooperative ministers, commissioners, regulators, chief executives and movement leaders from more than 20 African countries, including Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Morocco, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Founded in 1968, ICA-Africa is the regional arm of the International Cooperative Alliance and represents more than 50 cooperative organizations across 21 African countries. Malonza assumes office at a time when cooperatives are increasingly viewed as key vehicles for addressing unemployment, inequality, food insecurity and financial exclusion.

In his acceptance speech, he said the victory represented a collective mandate for cooperatives to take a more central role in Africa's development agenda.

"Cooperatives remain central to addressing pressing challenges, including youth unemployment, food insecurity, climate change, financial exclusion, and inequality," said Malonza.

He pledged to champion stronger governance, youth participation, inclusive leadership and deeper regional integration through cross-border cooperative enterprises.

His election comes amid growing debate over how African economies can build resilience against recurring global shocks. During the conference, delegates heard concerns that many African countries continue exporting raw materials while importing finished products and essential consumer goods, leaving economies vulnerable to disruptions in global markets.

Recent crises—including Ebola outbreaks, commodity price shocks, the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict—have exposed weaknesses in African supply chains, contributing to inflation, foreign exchange shortages and rising food prices across the continent.

Cooperative leaders argued that Africa's economic structure remains heavily dependent on exporting unprocessed commodities while importing higher-value manufactured goods, a pattern that limits industrialization and job creation.

Discussions also focused on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to create a single market spanning 54 countries and more than one billion people. While delegates acknowledged the enormous opportunity presented by the agreement, they noted that infrastructure deficits, regulatory barriers and inefficient logistics continue to slow implementation.

Poor transport networks, port inefficiencies and differing customs and certification standards remain major obstacles to intra-African trade, increasing costs for businesses and reducing competitiveness.

Participants said cooperatives are uniquely positioned to help overcome some of these barriers by organizing millions of small-scale producers into larger, more competitive market players. Through cooperative structures, farmers and small businesses can aggregate production, improve quality standards and access markets that would otherwise remain out of reach.

Kenya's cooperative sector is often cited as one of Africa's most successful, with more than 15 million people linked to cooperatives and savings and credit societies. The sector mobilizes billions of shillings annually and plays a significant role in financing households, farmers and small enterprises.

Malonza said stronger collaboration among African cooperatives could help unlock the full potential of AfCFTA while accelerating local production and value addition.

"Together we can create a stronger cooperative voice in global policy discussions and ensure that cooperatives become key drivers of inclusive growth, social justice, and sustainable development across Africa," he said.

His election is expected to strengthen Kenya's influence in shaping continental conversations around agricultural transformation, financial inclusion and sustainable economic development. It also places the country at the forefront of efforts to position cooperatives as practical instruments for tackling some of Africa's most persistent economic challenges while advancing regional trade and economic self-reliance.