By Co-op News
Charles Kiama reflects on his past with a smile. The primary school teacher in Nyahururu town is happy that his family has a comfortable life.
He notes that hard work and discipline in managing finances are drivers that have contributed significantly to his achievements in life.
When he got employed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Kiama hardly thought there was much he would accomplish in life with a teacher’s pay. Those days, he says, a bank loan was suicidal.
But in 1996, when he joined Unison Sacco, his perception of life changed. “After joining the Sacco I started facing life with confidence. It was a true partner that always supported me in all my endeavours whenever I sought their assistance,” he recalls.
Testimonials from the members who had benefitted from the Sacco influenced his decision to join the Sacco. Without the Sacco, Kiama avers, he would be far behind in development and growth strides he has made today.
His first step that boosted personal development was a Sh 180,000 loan with which he used to buy a plot at Mairo-inya Shopping Centre, a few kilometres from Nyahururu Town along Nyahururu-Nyeri Road.
He built a house that he now lets. “When in a Sacco that caters well for your needs, you see no limit. You dream big,” he offers.
His children, some of whom are still schooling in top private schools, have never lacked fees. Kiama says Unison Sacco has been granting him money to pay their fees even in emergencies, which he then repays without much straining. “That is the joy of every parent to see their children get quality education,” he says, full of joy.
He says if one repays their loan as required, there is no reason the Sacco would deny them financial assistance.
In 2010, Kiama took his second major loan from the Sacco of Sh 570,000, which he topped up with his savings to buy a plot at Runda, Nyahururu’s posh estate. In that land, he has constructed a palatial house with the Sacco’s support.
An ambitious Kiama has also set sight on dairy farming and has bought two cows. “My vision is to commercialize farming for better returns,” says the married father of four.
Soon if all goes as he plans, he intends to have a tractor and a personal vehicle. “I see no obstacle,” he says with a broad smile.
According to the teacher, Unison Sacco offers quality services, easy access to loans, and services that suit all.
He points out the Sacco has also made tremendous growth. “When I joined the Sacco, it had only one branch. Today, it has more than six,” he says.
Kiama says the Sacco has incorporated Information and Communication Technology in its operations to enhance its service delivery.
“I regularly get alerts for services. Since all branches are networked, it is also easier for me to get services from any of them. Besides, we have been issued with visa branded ATM cards making it possible for me to withdraw money from almost every part of the country,” he says.
“Unison Sacco is the place to be. It belongs to us members and is always there for us,” he says firmly.
The Sacco is set to launch a national share drive to raise capital which will see it drastically reduce external borrowing and, in return, lower interest rates for members.
According to Stanley Ndungu, the Sacco’s Nyahururu Branch Manager, the Sacco progress has been on an upward trend since its rebranding.
