International Journal of Management and Leadership Studies
2025; 6(i): 721-733
ISSN:
2311 7575
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND DAIRY FARMERS’ MEMBERSHIP IN COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES: A CASE OF GITHUNGURI DAIRY FARMERS COOPERATIVE SOCIETY
Francis Njuguna Nyoro and Dr. Samuel Thiong’o
Published:
01 December, 2025
Volume:
6
Issue:
i
Keywords:
Corporate Governance, Dairy Farmers, Membership, Cooperative Societies, Githunguri Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society
Globally, cooperative societies are recognized as pivotal in enhancing economic
empowerment among smallholder farmers by facilitating resource pooling, knowledge
sharing, and market access. In Kenya, dairy cooperatives play a critical role in connecting
farmers to formal markets, offering fair pricing, and enabling access to credit and
training. Despite these benefits, governance challenges such as weak leadership, limited
member oversight, and poor communication often undermine member participation and
trust. This study examined the relationship between corporate governance and dairy
farmers’ membership, focusing on Githunguri Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society in
Kiambu County. Employing a descriptive research design, the study targeted 1,515
management and staff members, with a stratified random sample of 316 participants.
Data were collected using structured questionnaires, validated through expert review
and pilot testing, and analyzed with SPSS using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation,
and multiple regression analysis. Findings revealed a strong and statistically significant
positive relationship between corporate governance and membership (r = 0.612, p < 0.01),
with governance practices explaining 37.5% of membership variance. The study
concludes that robust governance structures enhance trust, satisfaction, and sustained
membership, and recommends policy, managerial, and technological interventions to
strengthen cooperative governance and member engagement