MENTOR SACCO SYSTEM UPGRADE ON COURSE AS IT SUCCESSFULLY  ENGAGES MEMBERS IN KAJIADO  COUNTY

Keen  on  conquering a  bigger  market share  and giving  members a better experience, tier one Sacco    holds education , training and  information  forums  in a new territory

By George Gichuki

Mentor Sacco , a  fast  growing    tier one savings and credit co-operative  has  continued  to  make    major inroads into  Kajiado county  and its environs.  In that regard, last  Saturday,   the Sacco successfully    organized  education forums  at Kajiado township secondary school and AIC Namanga town hall  for its  growing   membership.  “  I would  like to appreciate our  Kajiado county  members  for turning  up in large numbers  to attend their education,  information and training forums,” said Mr. Eliud Nguma the Chairman of Mentor Sacco while addressing  the media  at  Kajiado township  secondary  school. “ They have promised to continue patronizing  our  products  and  being  our brand ambassadors  as  we  solidify  our  presence   in  this  region,”   he added.   Education,  training and information  is one of the seven co-operative  principles. The others are :  voluntary and open membership, democratic member  control, members’ economic  participation, autonomy and independence,  co-operation among co-operatives  and concern for community.  

Mr. Nguma  further acknowledged  that  Mentor Sacco  is winning  many members  in Kajiado.  “ Going by    the  many  members  in this region who have recently  joined  us, we will consider opening a branch  either at Kajiado, Kitengela or  Rongai   in the near future so that our products and services can become more accessible,”  he said.   Currently,  most of these members are relying   on the  lender’s   mobile  banking platform – dubbed Mentor  Quickcash –  to access  its wide array  of  products and services.

 System upgrade  

Within the last ten years,  the membership  of Mentor Sacco has grown from ten to over forty two  thousand countrywide.  In response to that  growth,  the Sacco is  currently  undertaking  a major  upgrade of  its core banking   system.    The  full migration  to  the  new system according  to Mr. Nguma  will  be by the end of October, this year. “ Once the system goes live, we shall  be able to offer our  products and services  on a real time basis, hence   giving our members  an  exemplary   experience,”  he  observed.

In line with its expansion strategy,  Mentor Sacco is also planning  to launch a branch in Kiambu town before the end of this year.  This will  bring  the total  number  of   its   full-fledged  branches   to  six including :  Murang’a,  Thika, Kenol  ,  Ithanga  and Ngara – Nairobi.  The Sacco also has  satellite  branches  in Kangema, Kangari, Kandara,  Kiria-ini and Kahuro  town centres in Murang’a  county.