Abstract:
Many businesses in Kenya and across Africa are employee-centric. These include the motorcycle and minibus
enterprises. The two have grown to become the leading industry in the provision of self-employment and give the
transport industry a new face and identity. The Jua Kali Enterprise is an example of an employee-centric business
comprising informal traders and artisans who work alongside the road in many developed countries and are
renowned for their ability to create pieces of objects for use at household level and enterprise level. They
serve as a reminder to policymakers, local governments, and business communities that there are business models
in place to invest in their communities and withstand economic shocks. This paper argues that worker co operativesare particularly resilient in adapting to a crisis, due to the specific features of the Co-operative model,
such as the values of democracy and solidarity, cooperation among co-operatives and concern for the community.
Local governments and the community can recognize and adopt this business model as an instrument to enhance
the central role of the Co-operative sector in transforming towards a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient society.
