The Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO), Kenya’s largest grassroots women’s network, is gearing up for the official launch of its National Sacco in January 2026, a move poised to revolutionize financial inclusion for women across the country.
This initiative comes at a pivotal time as MYWO intensifies efforts to unify, nurture, and empower women socially, economically, and politically, aligning with national goals for bottom-up economic transformation.
Founded in 1952, MYWO has evolved into a cornerstone of women’s advocacy in Kenya, boasting structures in every administrative unit from wards to the national level. With over 4 million members historically, the organization has championed causes ranging from gender equality to clean energy access, as seen in its promotion of the SAWA Can for water purification.
In recent years, MYWO has focused on economic empowerment, urging women to embrace Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) to foster saving cultures and access affordable credit.
This emphasis was evident during a 2024 event in Rachuonyo East, where MYWO leaders highlighted SACCOs’ role in reducing water-borne diseases and boosting women’s incomes as sales agents.
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The upcoming National Sacco launch builds on this foundation, offering women a dedicated platform for savings, loans, and investments tailored to their needs.
SACCOs have long been a lifeline in Kenya’s financial landscape, particularly for underserved groups.
As of 2025, the sector manages over KSh1 trillion in assets, providing low-interest loans and dividends that outpace traditional banks.
For women, who constitute about 50% of Kenya’s population but face barriers like limited collateral and cultural norms, SACCOs represent a pathway to entrepreneurship and stability.
The government, through the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, has actively supported this, with Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya emphasizing SACCOs’ centrality to financial inclusion and agricultural productivity in a recent stakeholders’ forum.
MYWO’s push aligns with broader national policies, such as the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BeTA), which prioritizes grassroots economies.
In May 2025, MYWO was urged to partner with the State Department for MSMEs to empower women economically, a call that resonates amid ongoing reforms in the cooperative sector.
The organization has also been expanding its footprint, launching a county office in Mandera in May 2025, dubbed the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Plaza, to enhance local outreach.
Additionally, MYWO leadership recently met with CS Oparanya to advance women’s cooperative agendas, signaling strong governmental backing for the Sacco initiative.
The launch coincides with MYWO’s preparations for internal elections, set against a backdrop of legal and organizational challenges. In October 2025, a section of members petitioned the court to compel the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to oversee elections, with a hearing scheduled for January 21, 2026.
This follows a nationwide recruitment drive unveiled in May 2025, aimed at bolstering membership ahead of 2026 polls.
MYWO’s election roadmap, managed by its National Elections Board, spans from 1,450 wards to the national level, ensuring democratic representation.
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Local chapters are already mobilizing. On November 25, 2025, Magadi Sub-county leaders visited MYWO’s national office in Nairobi, confirming readiness for a local Sacco chapter by February 2026.
Dressed in traditional Maasai attire, they gifted National Chairperson Rahab Muiu and Secretary Elizabeth Mayieka, underscoring cultural integration in empowerment efforts.
Experts view the National Sacco as a game-changer. Financial analysts note that SACCOs are essential for young Kenyans seeking independence, offering better leverage than banks.
In a country where women-led MSMEs drive informal sectors like agriculture and trade, this could amplify contributions to Kenya’s GDP, currently at 3.5% growth projection for 2026.
As Kenya grapples with economic pressures, including inflation and youth unemployment, MYWO’s Sacco launch embodies hope for inclusive growth. By January 2026, it promises not just financial tools but a stronger voice for women in shaping the nation’s future.
By David Kipkorir
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