The Path to Gender Balance in Saccos
Recent studies have highlighted the importance of balanced gender leadership in Saccos (Savings and Credit Cooperatives), as it provides a significant competitive advantage. However, the primary challenge to women holding leadership positions in cooperatives is the deeply rooted social and cultural norms that subordinate women and girls to men and boys.
Theresa Wanga, a Director at Bandari Sacco, strongly advocates for women to assume leadership roles. Despite efforts to empower women in recent decades, Wanga emphasizes the critical role of women’s involvement at the grassroots level, where Saccos typically originate.
Wanga proposes that empowering women could commence by establishing gender committees at the grassroots level, which can serve as a pathway for women to advance to leadership positions. She also underscores the statistical evidence showing that women excel in saving and effectively managing their finances.
Wanga also acknowledges that cultural factors have played a significant role in discouraging women from seeking leadership positions, not only within the cooperative movement but in society as a whole.
“Our culture depicts women as meant to stay at home and take care of the family, and yet they are the farm workers and the ones who bring in resources placed in the hands of men,” she said, challenging cooperative apex bodies to ensure that their top leadership includes women. “We have potential, and it is time for us to be intentional about bringing women into the forefront.”
Bandari Sacco is among a few Saccos that have embraced women, having achieved two-thirds gender representation in leadership.
Mrs Esha Khamis, the Supervisory Committee Chairlady, Ports Sacco, noted that women are usually not recognized, and even in the 20th century, there is still a gender gap not only in Kenya but globally.
“It is the woman that runs the family, brings up the child, and supports the male who is a husband to improve and develop themselves. So, if given the requisite opportunity, education, training, and empowerment, they will be able to conquer and become even better leaders,” she said.
Maureen Achieng Odhiambo, the Ag. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Verona Huruma, a regulated and withdrawable deposit-taking Sacco, says that the biggest challenge emanates from the community way back because mainly women were known to take care of the family. Despite this, she adds that ladies are currently trying to take up leadership positions, which is well seen even in the cooperative sector, where there are quite a number of women CEOs.
“We have a few CEOs in the Sacco Sector, such as the Utafiti and Muhasibu Saccos. With more empowered women leaders, more women will continue to take up leadership roles in higher positions,” Achieng said.
Verona-Huruma Sacco has six women on its board of directors. Achieng noted that women are good savers in societies, but this is not reflected in their ability to influence leadership environments.
The Cooperative Alliance of Kenya (CAK) CEO, Daniel Marube, says there are direct and positive impacts on women’s household and community decision-making power when it comes to access to and control over productive assets.
“Globally, cooperative leaders and members are working to ensure that increasing women’s cooperative leadership and governance remains a primary objective, considering that cooperatives with women in management positions succeed more than those without women in management,” he says.
Marube acknowledged that women have become a strong pillar in the growth and development of cooperatives and challenged them to consider leadership positions.
“We know that women borrow and pay their loans. Women’s default rate on loans is minimal since they borrow for a specific purpose and spend the money for that purpose. However, most are not taking up leadership positions despite being some of the highest savers,” Marube said.
