When Peter Njoroge was posted to Murang’a County as a young teacher in 2017, he found himself facing a choice that would ultimately shape his financial future. Having recently begun his career, he was considering joining a Sacco closer to his home in Kiambu County. However, conversations with fellow teachers at Ichiche School would lead him down a different path. Their recommendation was clear: join Mentor Sacco.
What began as advice from colleagues soon became one of the most impactful financial decisions of his life.At the time, Peter was working toward a dream shared by many young professionals, building a home. Like countless Kenyans pursuing major projects, he faced a familiar challenge: limited financial resources and the difficulty of accessing affordable financing.
Guidance
Rather than abandoning the dream, he sought guidance from Mentor Sacco’s staff members, who encouraged him to focus first on strengthening his savings.“They advised me to increase my savings so that I could qualify for a larger loan,” Peter recalls. Taking the advice seriously, he gradually increased his monthly contributions, moving from modest savings to significantly higher deposits within a relatively short period. The discipline paid off.
By building a strong savings culture, he was able to access the financing he needed to complete his house, achieving a milestone that had once seemed difficult to attain.But the impact of Mentor Sacco did not end there.
Over the years, Peter continued leveraging the financial institution’s products to support other income-generating ventures. From financing small projects to investing in dairy farming, the Sacco became a key enabler of his broader economic aspirations.“I have been able to secure loans for different projects, including keeping dairy cows,” he explains. “Mentor Sacco has benefited me a lot.”
Sustainable progress
His story highlights a lesson often overlooked in discussions about financial empowerment: access to credit alone is not enough. Sustainable progress is built on a combination of disciplined saving, responsible borrowing and long-term planning.That perspective was reinforced during the members’ education and information day held in Kimende Comprehensive School, where Peter joined fellow members in discussions about governance, financial literacy and the future of the Sacco.For him, the value of such forums cannot be overstated.
He believes that many prospective members often have questions about the benefits of joining a Sacco, and events like the members’ education and information days provide an ideal opportunity to receive answers directly from those responsible for steering the institution.“This is where members get a lot of information,” he says. “They interact with board members and the management team ; hence learning more on how the Sacco operates.”
More importantly, he views information as a powerful financial tool in its own right.In his view, many financial challenges arise not from a lack of income but from a lack of knowledge about saving, investing and planning for the future. Through initiatives such as the education and information forums, Mentor Sacco is helping bridge that gap by equipping members with practical financial insights that can influence decision-making long after the meeting ends.
Passion
Peter’s passion for financial literacy is particularly evident when speaking to younger professionals.He encourages young teachers, other professionals like doctors and business owners to begin saving early and to view Saccos not merely as places to access loans, but as institutions capable of helping them build long-term financial security.“People should save for their future and use the opportunities available through the Sacco to achieve their goals,” he says. “When resources are limited, Mentor Sacco can help members continue moving forward.”
He also commends the institution for bringing members’ education and information forums closer to members, making it easier for them to access information and engage directly with the leadership and management teams. For Peter, the future of financial empowerment lies not only in providing products and services, but also in ensuring members understand how to use them effectively.
His journey, from a young teacher seeking to complete a house to a financially empowered member investing in multiple projects, stands out as a testament to what can be achieved when discipline, information and opportunity come together.And for Peter Njoroge, Mentor Sacco has been at the centre of that transformation.
