When I was elected to the board of our Teachers Sacco last year, while I knew it was an important role, I underestimated how big it was. If you remember, the members did not like some of the officials, and I was voted in overwhelmingly to join the board and instil professionalism.
Last week, I discovered it was a big opportunity for exposure, travel, and seeing the world. A few months after joining, I was elected unopposed to chair the ICT committee. While I was not an ICT professional, I was the only one in the board who owned a laptop and who could successfully install WhatsApp on a phone, create and manage a WhatsApp group. Early in the year, during a board meeting, the CEO reminded us about a Sacco conference happening in Mombasa and asked those willing to attend. The Chair wanted all board members to travel. The Vice-Chair asked for a small number instead.
“It does not make value for money to send too many people,” he argued.
We listened carefully… then sided with the Chair and approved travel for everyone. Naturally, the CEO and management team also wanted to travel. We, however, rejected travel for the CEO and management team, reminding them they had a lot of work preparing the books for the upcoming AGM.
“If you go to Mombasa, who will process the dividends? That should be your work,” said the Chair.
“I hear you, Chair, but we have competent staff who can handle AGM preparation. We have done it before,” said the CEO calmly.
“Are you arguing with me?” the Chair asked, already in fighting mode.
The CEO immediately downgraded from English to respect and promised to facilitate our travel, and hoped we would bring back knowledge for the betterment of the Sacco.
Monday morning, very early, we left for Kisumu, where we would catch a direct flight to Mombasa. I questioned the word direct flight wondering if there are flights that are not direct.
It was explained to me that normally it stops in Nairobi, but because Saccos are important, we had been booked on a direct flight to Mombasa. I had prepared very well — multiple suits packed — ready to outdress fellow board members. And then… the waiting began. The 9am flight had not left by 11.30am. The airport was full of angry people, with more coming and none leaving. Departure time kept changing. No flight was leaving or arriving.
The Chairman kept calling the CEO: “I cannot miss the opening ceremony by the CS. Ensure we arrive before 2pm!”
The CEO explained — with visible pain — that he also had just discovered the strike… together with us. By 5pm we were still in Kisumu.
The CEO booked us into Acacia Hotel — a very nice hotel. At that moment, I forgave the striking workers. The next morning we flew directly to Mombasa and a vehicle picked us to the conference venue where crowds were everywhere, and the CS was speaking. It was the first time in my life to be in the same room with a Cabinet Minister. I took lots of notes from the many speakers. I stayed focused in the afternoon, although most attendees did not turn up, especially once the minister left. I was determined to learn about Saccos, and I was also sharing with the CEO what I was learning. As we took 4 o’clock tea, most said they would go to the beach afterwards. I had not carried any swimming gear. Had I carried swimming gear, I would have joined them.
“Relax. Nobody comes to Mombasa to wake up at 8am. We will pass by at 10am to see if there will be anything important.”
That evening, the CEO called:
“You are the ICT committee chair. There is a business meeting with a company that wants to sell technology solutions. Please attend and share what you think.” I entered the room confidently, where I found some men and women wearing nice suits with many gadgets. They congratulated our Sacco for the growth and started talking about how they deal with digitalisation by selling us virtuous machines, cyber security, wall fires and AIs. I understood nothing, but I kept nodding attentively and promised to support them, and I instructed the CEO to reach out to them and buy what they were talking about. They gave me great gifts, including a very nice power bank. The Chairman later asked me to represent him in the rest of the meetings as he had some errands to run. Luckily, I had met Wanjiru, a Finance Manager from another Sacco, and we became close friends immediately. That evening, the CEO called me and told me to check my M-Pesa. I was surprised. A very good amount of money had entered my account.
“That is your per diem, Dre,” he said.
He then added that in all his years, I was the first board member who had actually shared meeting notes with him. Apparently, the others attended meetings strictly for oxygen and refreshments.
“And you will get more when you become Chairman,” he added — carefully planting a seed.
Later, he even told me that in our board, I was the only reasonable person. At that point, I forgave him for all past time we differed. We spent quite some time with Wanjiru, the Finance Manager from another Sacco. On Thursday we did not attend any sessions. She took me to a place where I bought a swimming costume for her and a pair of shorts for me. As others attended the conferences, we were busy shuttling between the beach hotel tea area and our rooms. There was a gala dinner, and I had been eager to see what gala meant, but Wanjiru suggested that we go to Mtwapa, where we went after dinner, and stayed there until hours that the rooster itself would consider irresponsible.
What happens in Mtwapa remains in Mtwapa, but all I can say is that Wanjiru ensured that I spent every coin I received as per diem — I wonder what I was thinking when I told her how much I had received. When I woke up, well past 11a.m, I called the CEO and told him all I had captured that needed to be implemented immediately.
“Things will be even better when you become Chairman,” he said.
At this point, I still didn’t fully understand what a Chairman actually does, but I immediately began planning reforms — starting with purchasing cyber security wall fires to show others that our Sacco was digital. The CEO promised he would do everything possible to ensure I become the next Chairman.
“Otherwise, hii Sacco itaanguka ,” he said. The current chair has two more years to go, but the CEO told me we can manufacture an audit issue that will see him sent packing, and that will be my opportunity to become chair! I can’t wait!
