KUSCCO pushes for tax relief on SACCO transactions in 2026/27 budget submissions

Members of Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) could soon enjoy significant tax relief if proposals presented to the National Treasury are adopted in the upcoming 2026/27 national budget. The Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Co-operatives (KUSCCO) has urged the Treasury to scrap excise duty on member-based transactions, arguing that the levy unfairly penalises…

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Sacco
MP Kimani Ichung’wah during a past event. He has proposed Mega Sacco that would pool funds from existing SACCOs.

Mega SACCO proposal sparks uproar as cooperative principles take centre stage

A legislative proposal by Kikuyu Member of Parliament (MP) Kimani Ichung’wah to establish a “Mega Sacco” that would pool funds from existing Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) has ignited intense public debate, exposing deep tensions between state-driven financial consolidation and the foundational philosophy of the cooperative movement. At the heart of the proposal lies…

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SASRA orders SACCOs to bolster cyber-security ahead of holiday attack risks 

The Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA) has directed all regulated SACCOs to institute round‑the‑clock surveillance and mandatory offline data back‑ups of their digital platforms, warning of heightened cyber‑attack risks during the upcoming Easter and Labour Day holidays. According to SASRA, analysis of past incidents shows cyber‑attacks peak during long weekends and public holidays, particularly in…

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Saccos
SACCOs in Kenya. The Writer says that the government should not tax non-core activities to

Why income from Sacco non-core activities should not be taxed

Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs) have long been recognized as vital pillars in Kenya’s financial ecosystem. This is true to-date. Under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), SACCOs are not merely financial intermediaries but grassroots economic engines that mobilize savings, deepen financial inclusion, and empower millions of citizens economically. They are agencies of change….

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KUSCCO Centre
KUSCCO Centre. File Photo

Key recommendations to restore trust in KUSCCO

The Committee of Experts reviewing Kenya’s SACCO legal and regulatory framework has called for immediate reforms at the Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Co-operatives Ltd (KUSCCO) to restore public confidence following a massive fraud scandal. The scandal, which saw over Ksh13.3 billion misappropriated from member SACCOs, involved illegal withdrawals, unauthorized transfers, and unsupported executive…

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President Ruto
President Ruto with Cooperatives CS Wyckliffe Oparanya during the presentation of the SACCOs report. Photo file

Inside the SACCOs’ Deposit Protection Fund recommended by experts

The Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies (SACCOs) in Kenya might finally have a deposit protection fund(DPF) similar to that enjoyed by banks, 5 years after Kenya’s Cabinet approved amendments to the Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies (SACCO) Act, to make this happen. The fund proposed by the sector experts seeks to establish a deposit insurance…

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Equity of Redemption ensures that a borrower retains the right to reclaim their property after paying the outstanding debt and any legitimate interest or costs.

Understanding the Equity of Redemption Principle as a critical protection for borrowers

In the world of loans and mortgages, borrowers often place valuable assets such as land, houses, or vehicles as security when seeking credit. While this arrangement helps individuals access much-needed funds, it also exposes them to the risk of losing their property if they fail to repay the loan. To prevent lenders from unfairly taking…

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Oparanya on Sacco

Oparanya urges SACCOS to expel rogue officials as sector reforms intensify

Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya has called on savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOS) to take decisive action against rogue officials implicated in fraud and financial mismanagement. He warned that allowing such individuals to move freely between institutions undermines trust and stability in the cooperative sector. Speaking during a…

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Sidian Bank
Sidian Bank CEO Chege Thumbi speaking during KETSA meeting/Photo by Fredrick Odierpo

Sidian Bank to work with SACCOs to spur growth

The Sidian Bank has reaffirmed its commitment in working with Saving and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) to leverage itself through partnerships and linkages in order to spur growth. The banks’ Chief executive officer Chege Thumbi said that SACCOs can serve as trusted financial partners throughout members’ life journeys. Speaking in Kisumu during the Kenya Teachers…

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Oparanya
Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and MSME Development Wycliffe Oparanya during KUSCCO 11th Annual Leaders Convention/Photo Courtesy

State rejects SACCOs request to pay interest and dividends from loans

The Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Wycliffe Oparanya has raised concern over growing financial mismanagement within savings and credit co-operative societies (SACCOs), warning that some institutions are pressuring the ministry to allow them to declare interest on deposits and dividends without adequate revenues or cash flows to support the…

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