Moments of disruption present opportunities for reform. They compel leadership to rethink mandates, reassess priorities, and strengthen accountability systems. That is precisely what KUSCCO is doing today.
We are repositioning the Union in line with its revised mandate—not as an institution primarily engaged in mobilizing and managing Sacco investments, but as a national advocacy and umbrella body for the Sacco movement in Kenya. This shift is deliberate, strategic, and necessary. An advocacy body must be impartial and credible; it must speak for all Saccos without a conflict of interest. By moving away from investment-taking functions and sharpening our focus on advocacy, research, training, and capacity building, we strengthen the Union’s moral authority and independence.
To support this transition, we are developing comprehensive governance and operational policies, including financial management frameworks, risk and compliance structures, and stakeholder engagement protocols. These are not mere documents; they are safeguards designed to imbue transparency, clarity, and accountability into the very core of this institution.
We have also undertaken a major reorganization and restructuring. Two and a half years ago, KUSCCO had 200 staff members; today, we have 75. This was not an easy decision. It affected livelihoods and required difficult, honest conversations. However, it was necessary to align our human resource structure with our revised mandate and financial reality. Departments are being reorganized and roles redefined to reflect our federation and advocacy functions. This is not a contraction for its own sake—it is consolidation. It is about building a lean, efficient, and sustainable institution capable of delivering value to its members without overextending itself.
Distinguished Sacco leaders, in the short term, our priorities are clear. First, we must stabilize the Union’s finances; without financial stability, no reform can succeed. Second, we will continue settling creditors in a structured and orderly manner.
Furthermore, we recognize that without reliable data, advocacy is weakened. Without critical statistics, our policy influence is constrained. For this reason, KUSCCO—in cooperation with the Ministry and other stakeholders—intends to establish a National Sacco Data Center. This center will consolidate financial and non-financial data, including governance indicators, membership trends, digital adoption levels, and sector performance benchmarks. The story of our movement cannot be told through balance sheets alone; it must be supported by non-financial indicators and evidence-based insights. I, therefore, urge all Sacco CEOs to support this data collection initiative. A movement of our magnitude must be guided by facts.
Distinguished leaders, last year we convened a structural dialogue between Sacco leaders and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to address tax-related concerns affecting the sector. This engagement created a formal platform for consultation and mutual understanding. We intend to institutionalize this dialogue as an annual engagement to ensure that Saccos operate within a fair and predictable tax environment that recognizes the unique cooperative model. Similarly, KUSCCO played a key role in mobilizing Sacco participation in the Sacco Act review process through the Committee of Experts. More consultative meetings will be held as this review process progresses.
Ladies and gentlemen, I urge all leaders to remit their annual subscriptions to enable the Union to effectively represent the sector. I acknowledge that some Saccos have raised concerns regarding the revised certificate fees. Your concerns are valid, and I encourage structural engagement through our regional offices so that practical and mutually agreeable solutions can be reached.
I also encourage you to actively utilize and support the Union’s core services—particularly training, education, research, and consultancy. Doing so not only strengthens your own institutions but also reinforces the sustainability and effectiveness of the Union.
In unity and shared commitment, let us use this moment to build trust, strengthen governance, and move forward together with confidence—knowing that the best days of Kenya’s Sacco movement lie ahead of us.
Speech by CPA Peter Wanjohi Kiama, Acting KUSCCO MD, during the 11th Annual Sacco Leaders Congress
