Tier one Sacco’s 2025 members’ information and education days drive kick off in a high gear
By George Gichuki
True to its long tradition, this year, Mentor Sacco, a leading tier one savings and credit co-operative is holding a series of members’ information and education days for its members in the areas where it has a presence. This is a well co-ordinated campaign that will run for five weeks. The theme of this campaign is : ‘ Enhancing members’ financial success through education and information.’ Globally, co-operatives are governed by seven fundamental principles and one of them is : ‘ members’ education, training and information.’ This principle is aimed at arming members with invaluable knowledge and information so that they can make prudent decisions and in turn, reap maximum benefits from their respective co-operatives.
Essentially, co-operatives are established by members with common goals, aspirations and visions. In that vein, through annual general meetings ( AGMs), members participate in making strategic decisions on the management and governance of co-operatives. Indeed, AGMs are the highest decision making organs of co-operatives. This demonstrates that members are the pillars on which successful co-operatives are established, nurtured and governed. Mentor Sacco is not an exception. “Members are the pillars of our Sacco and an informed membership provides value to themselves and even more to the Sacco,” said Mr. Eliud Mbugua, the Chairman of Mentor Sacco during the members’ information and education day forum at Kangema Youth Empowerment Hall in Murang’a County. “We would wish to have a membership that is well informed and whose decisions are based on the knowledge and information provided by the Sacco,” he added.
High attendance
The Kangema Youth Empowerment Hall was packed to capacity with Mentor Sacco members eager to be educated and trained. They started arriving at the venue as early as 7.30 am. Upon registration, they went into the hall to follow the presentations. The members were taken through important issues regarding the co-operative movement in general, and Mentor Sacco in particular including: the savings and deposits products offered by the Sacco, tips on prudent financial management, the loans and advances that are offered by the Sacco, how to access the products and services of the Sacco through its website as well as its enhanced mobile banking services.
2025 theme
Mr. Mbugua noted that this year’s theme – ‘Enhancing members’ financial success through education and information’ – was chosen in order to sensitize members on the need to save and invest with the Sacco in their bid to achieve financial success. “In view of our mantra- adding value to life – we are keen on unlocking the full potential of our members by educating them on how they can leverage our product offering to grow wealth and ultimately transform their lives,” emphasized Mr. Mbugua.
As a forward looking financial institution, Mentor Sacco has embraced digitalization. In October 2024, the Sacco launched a robust digital system dubbed ‘ Business Central 365.’ This has helped the Sacco to offer its wide array of products and services to members remotely and efficiently. For instance, during the current members’ information and education days campaign, the registration is being undertaken digitally, in a seamless and very efficient process. Early this year, Mentor Sacco successfully held an AGM that was attended by over three thousand members who were also registered digitally.
New branch
Even as Mentor Sacco continues to serve its members digitally in Kenya and beyond our borders, it has also established physical branches as part of its delivery channels. In that regard, early this year, the tier one Sacco launched a full-fledged branch in Kiambu town. This was based on a feasibility study whose findings indicated that most members in that region were travelling a bit far (to either Thika or Nairobi) while in need of services in a physical branch. “Currently, we have registered over four thousand members in the new branch,” said Mr. Mbugua adding that on average they are registering ten members on a daily basis in this branch, and by the end of this year, they are optimistic that this number will have grown to about six thousand.
