Consistent engagement of members in new market territories pays dividends for tier one Sacco
By George Gichuki
The well co-ordinated marketing campaign by Mentor Sacco to expand its footprint beyond Murang’a County has continued to bear fruits. To this end, the Sacco has made strong inroads in Kiambu county where it launched a branch in 2025. “We can proudly say that we have managed to recruit more than four thousand members from Kiambu County and this number keeps growing every month,” said Mrs. Joyce Ndegwa, the Chief Executive Officer ( CEO) of Mentor Sacco, during the members’ education and information day in Limuru. The venue of this event was Manguo Comprehensive School. “ Our membership in Kiambu county has consistently grown because we interact a lot with the local community during our education and information forums, events organized by various schools like sports and workshops as well as medical camps organized by hospitals,” she added.
Key forum
Mrs. Ndegwa emphasized that members’ education and information forums are major activities in the annual calendar of Mentor Sacco. Anchored on one of the seven principles of co-operatives – education, training and information- through these forums, the Sacco partners with experienced professional facilitators who educate its members on how they can achieve transform their lives. Additionally, it updates them on its performance in areas like finance and membership as well as all the important activities it has lined up in a particular year.
In the same vein, members are educated on the array of products and services the Sacco offers so that they can enjoy their benefits . Most importantly, members get an opportunity to share their feedback with the leadership and management teams. “ This feedback is very important because it helps us to develop better products and improve our service delivery,” Mrs. Ndegwa said.
Presentation
The theme of Mentor Sacco 2026 members’ education and information days campaign is : ‘ Stronger together : building a sustainable Sacco through responsible governance and active membership.’ Mrs. Ndegwa explained that they came up with this theme based on the fact that currently, the Sacco is in the process of transforming into the delegate system of governance. “We really value our members and therefore we want them to be part and parcel of this journey,” she said. “ Consequently, we are educating them on the benefits of embracing the delegate system as the Sacco grows and endeavours to comply with emerging regulations,” she added.
Mrs. Ndegwa assured members who had turned up in big numbers during the education and training forum in Limuru that even as the Sacco adopts the new governance system, they will remain the supreme decision makers since the responsibility to elect delegates is vested on them. She further highlighted that by interacting directly with the members, delegates will be able to share important and factual information on the grassroots with the board of directors, hence strengthening the governance of the Sacco. “ The Sacco remains committed to strengthening governance, enhancing service delivery, embracing technology and ensuring full compliance with all the regulatory requirements,” she emphasized.
In her presentation, Mrs. Ndegwa further said that the management team will continue working closely with the board, supervisory committee, regulators, and staff members to safeguard members’ funds , maintain institutional stability and improve operational efficiency. In that vein, she urged members to support the Sacco through : increased savings and deposits, responsible borrowing and timely loan repayment, active use of the Sacco products and services, embracing its digital platforms, participation in the members’ education and governance meetings as well as recruitment of new members.
The digital experience
Mentor Sacco continues to embark on an ambitious journey of digitalization. “ We are in the era of technology and we would not wish to be left behind by other players in the financial sector,” said Mrs. Ndegwa on the sidelines of the Limuru members’ education and information day. Currently, more than forty thousand members of Mentor Sacco have been onboarded on its mobile banking platform. “ More than three quarters of our transactions are made through our mobile banking platform and we are very glad that our members have kept up with the market trends,” she happily noted.
She further said that the Sacco is planning to go paperless in the near future. In that respect, members will be applying for loans through an online portal conveniently, after which the loans will be appraised, approved and disbursed.
Message to members
As Mentor Sacco plans to mark its fiftieth anniversary ( golden jubilee) in 2027, Mrs. Ndegwa noted that this will be an opportune time to reflect on its milestones, celebrate the pioneer members and chart a stronger course in the days ahead. The Sacco has remained resilient, focused and committed to sustainable growth since its establishment in 1977. It has surmounted many challenges in this demanding journey by embracing a transparent business model and complying with the statutory regulations, hence delivering value to its members and stakeholders remarkably. “ I urge you all to make informed financial decisions and seek clarity from our team members in case you get stuck as we walk this financial journey together,” Mrs. Ndegwa advised members. “ Together, through unity, responsible patronage and shared commitment, we shall continue building a stronger and more resilient Sacco,” she affirmed.
The CEO applauded members for depositing faithfully with the Sacco, hence enabling it to offer credit without relying on external financing. She was upbeat that the lender will have an asset base of Kshs. 20 billion at the end of the current financial year. An even more ambitious goal is to have a membership of over one hundred thousand within the next five years and a presence throughout Kenya and beyond our borders. Going by its current growth momentum and strong brand heritage over the last fifty years, that goal is achievable.
