Business Updated: 06 July 2025 09:57 EAT 31 Views | ~ 2 minutes

NCBA HOSTS SACCO EMPOWERMENT CONFERENCE TO DRIVE SECTOR RESILIENCE AND INNOVATION

NCBA on 3rd July hosted its annual SACCO Banking Customer Empowerment Forum at Serena Hotel, Nairobi. The forum brought together leaders across Kenya’s cooperative movement to address governance, sustainability and innovation in the SACCO sector.

This marks the third year of NCBA’s SACCO Empowerment Series, an ongoing initiative designed to equip SACCO leaders with knowledge, tools, and peer-driven insights to strengthen their institutions. Previous editions have tackled topics such as “Growing Membership Among Gen Z” and “Navigating Cybersecurity.” This year, the spotlight turns to “Governance” — a timely and critical issue shaping the future of SACCOs in Kenya.

The event featured high-impact discussions on governance, digitalisation, and risk management and offered SACCO leaders practical insights for transforming in pace with shifting regulatory landscapes and mitigating operational risks within a fast-digitising landscape.

The SACCO sector continues to play a critical role in Kenya’s financial inclusion journey, boasting over 6 million members and over KES 1 trillion in assets. However, governance and accountability gaps remain a concern, with recent reports from the Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA) revealing that SACCOs lose over KES 3 billion annually due to fraud, poor oversight, and weak internal controls.

“SACCOs are not just financial institutions—they are engines of community empowerment and economic resilience,” said Co-operatives Commissioner, Ministry of Co-operatives transformation and MSME Development, David Obonyo. “As a Ministry, we are committed to working hand in hand with financial institutions like NCBA to create a thriving, transparent and technology-driven SACCO ecosystem. Through strengthened governance, access to capital, and digital, we can ensure our SACCOs remain ethical, competitive, and future-ready.” The Commissioner was was representing the Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives & MSME Development at the event.

Presiding over the event, NCBA’s Group Managing Director, John Gachora, emphasised the crucial role SACCOs play in the economy and the importance of governance and innovation in ensuring business continuity.

“NCBA’s customer obsession strategy is rooted in proactive engagement, human-centered design and tailored solutions that meet customers where they are. In the SACCO space, this means deep listening, co-creating products with SACCO leaders, and ensuring we deliver tools that enhance operational efficiency, member value, and long-term resilience. We believe that empowering SACCOs to serve their members better is not just a business priority — it is a national development goal.”

NCBA continues to provide a robust suite of SACCO solutions including core banking systems, payment integrations, digital lending platforms, and training programs focused on governance and digital transformation. Our goal is to help SACCOs not only keep up with regulatory expectations but to lead from the front—digitally, securely, and transparently. Through strategic partnerships, the leading financial institution remains committed to equipping SACCOs with the tools they need to be future-ready, more agile, and financially empowered.

The success of SACCOs relies on the strength of their governance and ability to embrace innovation. At NCBA, we believe that empowering SACCOs is not just about offering banking solutions but being a growth partner providing both financial services and strategic guidance for SACCOs to remain competitive and compliant,” he said.

Experts from across the cooperative and financial sectors explored best practices in board oversight, cybersecurity readiness, and the role of innovation in delivering sustainable SACCO growth.

As the SACCO sector faces both opportunities and disruptions, NCBA reaffirmed its commitment to continue leading through thought leadership, product innovation, and shared value partnerships. This initiative aims to build a stronger, more inclusive financial future for Kenya.

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