- Simon Tanui and Dr Brenda Obondo received global credit union honours in Sydney.
- Tanui earned the I-CUDE designation, while Obondo won the WYCUP Scholarship.
- The awards highlight Africa’s growing role in the global cooperative movement.
Two Kenyan cooperators have received international recognition for their contribution to the credit union movement. They were honoured during the 2026 World Credit Union Conference held in Sydney, Australia.
Simon Tanui, General Manager for Innovation and Strategy at Kenya National Police DT SACCO, was awarded the prestigious International Credit Union Development Educator (I-CUDE) designation by the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions.
Dr Brenda Obondo, Vice Chairperson of Kenya Medical Association SACCO, was also recognised after receiving the 2026 World Young Credit Union Professionals (WYCUP) Scholarship.
Tanui was among four African credit union leaders conferred with the I-CUDE designation. He was joined by Col Allan Tom Kitanda, Board Chairperson of the Uganda Cooperative Savings and Credit Union (UCSCU); Cyprian Basing, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cooperative Credit Unions Association; and Mercy Tumukunde, Chief Executive Officer of SteadFin Uganda SACCO Ltd.
READ ALSO:
Gov’t targets threefold boost in bixa production for farmers
The I-CUDE designation is a professional recognition within the global credit union movement. It honours individuals who demonstrate expertise and leadership in credit union development, financial education and the advancement of cooperative principles.
Meanwhile, Mary Bokosi, Chief Executive Officer of Polymed SACCO in Malawi, was recognised through the 2026 Global Women’s Leadership Network (GWLN).
The awards came as more than 2,400 credit union leaders from 39 countries gathered in Sydney for the 2026 World Credit Union Conference.
The African Confederation of Cooperative Savings and Credit Associations (ACCOSCA), which led the African delegation, celebrated the achievements. It also reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the global cooperative movement to advance prosperity across Africa.
The conference was hosted by the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) and Australia’s Customer Owned Banking Association (COBA). It provided a platform for leaders from member owned financial institutions to exchange ideas, share experiences and explore emerging opportunities in the sector.
Key discussions focused on governance, digital transformation, leadership, financial inclusion and institutional resilience. Delegates examined strategies for strengthening credit unions in an increasingly changing financial environment.
For African delegates, the conference offered exposure to global best practices. It also gave them a chance to build strategic partnerships and explore innovative approaches that can be adapted to strengthen cooperative financial institutions across the continent.
The international recognition of these African credit union professionals highlights the growing participation and influence of African professionals in the global credit union movement.
The knowledge, partnerships and experiences gained in Sydney are expected to contribute to efforts to improve institutional performance, innovation and sustainable growth among African credit unions and Saccos.
The engagements also underscore the important role of member owned financial institutions in advancing financial inclusion and improving the socio economic wellbeing of communities across Africa.
By Obegi Malack
Get more stories from our website: Sacco Review.
For comments and clarifications, write to: Saccoreview@
Kindly follow us via our social media pages on Facebook: Sacco Review Newspaper for timely updates
Stay ahead of the pack! Grab the latest Sacco Review newspaper!
