- Mentor Sacco members approve major changes to the society’s governance structure.
- The Sacco outlines plans to expand representation as membership grows.
- Members back a higher monthly contribution to strengthen family protection benefits.
Members of Mentor Sacco have voted to abandon the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in favour of a delegates system, a change the society says will make its meetings cheaper and more efficient. The resolution was passed at a Special General Meeting (SGM) held on October 17, 2026, at St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral Grounds in Murang’a town, where the 49 year old society is headquartered.
Under the new arrangement, members will elect representatives to speak for them at an Annual Delegates Meeting (ADM), which becomes the society’s highest decision making organ. Large cooperatives with at least 5,000 members commonly use the model, since it allows orderly deliberations without the expense of gathering everyone. Mentor Sacco now joins other big societies that have taken this route to serve a wide membership and varied interest groups, among them the youth, women, pensioners, farmers and business owners.
The move comes as Mentor Sacco prepares to turn 50 next year. The society is amending several bylaws to reflect that journey, and the delegates system is the most significant of them. Board Chairman Eliud Mbugua said all members will be invited to the Golden Jubilee celebrations. After that, he explained, every meeting will run through delegates.
Mbugua told members that bylaws are the internal rules that govern how an organisation such as Mentor Sacco operates. Under the second co-operative principle, democratic member control, only members can legally amend them, and only at a general meeting.
“By-laws define the rights and responsibilities of members, the governance structure, the election and responsibilities of leaders, and how important decisions are made,” he said.
He then urged members to consider the proposals with an open mind, a sense of ownership and the Sacco’s long term interest at heart. They should listen closely to the presentations, ask for clarification where needed and judge each proposal on its merit, he said, while taking part respectfully and constructively.
READ:
The amendments cover the new governance structure, the powers given to the ADM, the electoral zones and units that will send delegates, and the qualifications a candidate must meet. Officials from the Murang’a County cooperative office, the County Director for Cooperatives, the Commissioner for Cooperatives and the Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (Sasra) Chief Executive Officer also attended the meeting.
On the numbers, Maina said the Board has fixed the number of delegates at 108. That figure will rise to 180 over time to accommodate other interest groups. Each delegate will represent between 435 and 500 members, he said. By comparison, a single director previously spoke for more than 1,000 members. More delegates will be added as membership grows.
Members also approved a rise in the monthly risk fund contribution from Ksh 200 to Ksh 350. The fund currently gives the family of a deceased member Ksh 50,000 to cover last expenses. That amount rises to Ksh 80,000 where the spouse is also a member. In addition, the member’s ordinary deposits are doubled and paid to the nominees, while any outstanding loan is cleared. Members who become incapacitated at work and can no longer earn an income receive the same benefits, which gives their families significant relief.
Chief Executive Officer Joyce Ndegwa appealed to members to support the increase, describing the fund as an effective form of life insurance. She noted that the monthly contribution is far lower than the premiums most insurers in the Kenyan market charge for similar cover.
“It is important to have a strong risk fund that is able to cater for all our members’ benefits as and when they arise without deducting the same from our surplus kitty,” she said. Ndegwa added that the higher contribution will also strengthen the Sacco’s institutional capital.
By Benedict Aoya
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!
