Microfinance institutions are often celebrated for the impact they have on empowering communities. But at the very heart of this impact are the credit officers; the people who walk into villages, sit in the heat of group meetings, listen to stories, enforce accountability, and ultimately turn financial services into life-changing opportunities.
One of these officers is Dickson Omondi, who joined Yehu Microfinance in June 2025 and is already leaving an indelible mark in Mtwapa.
A Fresh Start with Big Responsibility
When Omondi took up his role as a credit officer, he was assigned to Umoja-Majengo, one of Yehu’s oldest and most active groups. On paper, the group looked promising. In reality, it was struggling. Repayments were slow, attendance was inconsistent, and old defaults were weighing down progress. Many would have been discouraged. But Omondi saw the challenge as an opportunity.
“I found them when they were doing good, though they had some challenges. The payments were not great, and attendance at meetings wasn’t consistent. But I knew with the right approach, we could turn the group around,” he recalls.
Armed with patience and strategy, Omondi began mobilizing members. He rebuilt trust, emphasized the importance of showing up for centre meetings, and reintroduced members to Yehu’s wide range of products. Slowly but surely, results began to show. Attendance improved,repayments became more regular, and group confidence was restored.
Today, Umoja-Majengo boasts an outstanding loan balance (OLB) of over Kshs. 1 million, making it one of the strongest groups under his management.
The Work behind the Success
Being a credit officer isn’t a desk job. Omondi’s days start early, and by evening he has often sat through four or more group meetings, both in Mtwapa and in interior areas. Each group requires careful attention; from reviewing repayments and processing loan requests, to offering financial literacy and resolving conflicts.
He manages over fifty groups in total, each one unique in its membership and challenges. Yet his approach remains consistent: professional, firm, and empathetic.
“I conduct due diligence whenever a client requests a loan. It’s not just about issuing money; it’s about ensuring the loan supports their business and that they can repay it without strain,” he explains.
The due diligence is paying off. By working closely with members, he has prevented new defaults and even revived confidence in the ones who once struggled.
Tackling Defaults and Building Trust
One of the biggest hurdles Omondi faced was dealing with old defaults. Instead of ignoring them, he encouraged members to revisit those cases and find ways to recover funds. “We even go for group follow-ups together,” he says. “Even if the loan had been cleared, I show them how they can work to recover that money so it goes back into their pockets.”
This approach has not only improved the group’s financial health but has also built solidarity. Members now know that defaults affect everyone and they stand together to avoid repeating past mistakes.
In one case, Omondi recalls, a member had stopped attending meetings and failed to make payments. Rather than let the group collapse under the strain, other members contributed to cover his share. When the absent member was eventually confronted, he returned, humbled, and recommitted to participating fully. “Now he attends meetings regularly. The group itself held him accountable, and that is the strength of unity,” Omondi notes with pride.
Professional Boundaries
For Omondi, success also comes from maintaining clear professional boundaries. “It’s important not to get too personal with members,” he explains. “If you become casual, they might take advantage. My relationship with them is professional; respectful, supportive, but firm.”
That doesn’t mean he is distant. On the contrary, he takes every chance to mentor groups on good business practices, financial discipline, and the benefits of unity. By emphasizing that groups are more like families, he has fostered a culture where members support each other in everything from school fees to emergencies.
Why it matters
The ripple effect of Omondi’s work is visible in the lives of members. With access to Yehu’s loans and his constant guidance, many have expanded their businesses, paid school fees on time, and built resilience against challenges. “I’ve seen clients grow from small beginnings to running successful businesses. When they share their testimonies of how far they’ve come, that motivates me even more,” he says.
But for Omondi, it’s not just about numbers or loan portfolios. It’s about transformation. “Unity and openness have helped these groups grow,” he reflects. “When they come together, they become family. That family spirit is what allows them to solve problems, invest in their future, and build lasting change in their communities.”
Looking Ahead
Only a few months into his role, Omondi is already thinking big. His goal is to expand Yehu’s reach in Mtwapa and beyond, tapping into areas that are yet to benefit from microfinance. With over fifty groups already under his care, he envisions even more clients coming on board, strengthened by Yehu’s reputation for fast disbursement of loans, transparency, and exemplary customer experience.
His message to those who haven’t joined Yehu yet is simple but powerful: “The doors are open. We offer the best service, loans are disbursed quickly, sometimes within a day, and our customer experience is unmatched. If you’re serious about growing, Yehu is the place to be.”
FROM MPESA TO MILLIONAIRE DREAMS: EVELYNE’S JOURNEY WITH YEHU MICROFINANCE
When Evelyne Ndano Nicholas looks back at her journey, she sees not just the growth of a business, but the transformation of a life. A mother of two young children, Evelyne’s story is one of grit, risk-taking, and the power of the right financial partner.
Her entrepreneurial journey began in 2019 with something as modest as a single M-Pesa outlet. She started with only Kshs. 30,000; cash and float combined. It was small, but it was a beginning. That same year, she turned to Yehu Microfinance for support. With her very first Yehu business loan of Kshs. 30,000, Evelyne gained not just capital, but the confidence to think bigger.
“I grew while serving that loan and finished paying it off. From there, I kept building,” she says.
The second loan of Kshs. 60,000 helped her open a second M-Pesa shop, located near the first one. Step by step, her limit grew. By the time she qualified for a Kshs. 100,000 loan, Evelyne’s entrepreneurial spirit had outgrown mobile money services. Encouraged by a friend, she ventured into shoe retail and wholesale.
With profits from the M-Pesa outlets, Evelyne opened ‘Glorious Shop’- selling shoes to both retail and wholesale customers. The success of this shop quickly led to a second shoe outlet and even a storage unit in Kikambala, Mombasa County. Today, she manages multiple shops that serve a wide market, a far cry from where she started just a few years ago.
Yehu: the partner behind the progress
For Evelyne, Yehu Microfinance has been more than a lender, it has been a steady hand guiding her every step of the way. “If it wasn’t for Yehu, I wouldn’t be where I am,” she affirms. “They believe in me, and that has been the best decision of my life.”
Her loan journey; Kshs. 30,000, 60,000, 100,000, 150,000, and now 400,000, mirrors her growth story. Today, Evelyne is eyeing a Kshs. 700,000 loan to launch her next big move: a shop selling both shoes and clothes. Confident in Yehu’s support, she has no doubt this expansion will succeed.
Why Yehu Stands Out
Evelyne highlights several reasons regarding why she chose Yehu over other financial institutions. The low-interest rates, flexible repayment schedules, and community-based model makes it not only accessible but empowering. Unlike other microfinance institutions, Yehu gives its members the breathing space to grow.
She also values the broader opportunities Yehu creates for families. Beyond business loans, Evelyne looks forward to one day using Yehu’s Elimu loan to support her children’s education.
Looking Ahead
With her current momentum, Evelyne sees herself opening one shop every year for the next five years. Her vision? To become a millionaire entrepreneur, supported every step of her journey by Yehu.
And her advice to fellow youth is simple but powerful:
“Yehu is a trusted microfinance institution. Their interest is low, their terms are fair, and they give you the time you need. Come, let’s all succeed with Yehu by our side.”
HOW YEHU MICROFINANCE FUELS MARGARET CHEGE’S POULTRY DREAM
When Margaret Chege left her home in Kiambu for Mombasa five years ago, it wasn’t an easy decision. But it was a bold one. She had caught wind of a market gap that most of the eggs consumed in Mombasa were being transported all the way from Thika. For her, that was more than a statistic; it was an opportunity.
Armed with determination but little capital, Margaret began her journey with just two hundred layers. As her birds matured and started laying, she reinvested in the business, steadily adding to her flock; first five hundred, then one thousand, and later two thousand five hundred. With every expansion came both excitement and new challenges, but she remained committed to building something sustainable.
By May of this year, Margaret scaled again, taking in three thousand chicks, and just two months later, another three thousand. Today, her farm is not just a poultry operation; it is a symbol of what grit, vision, and the right support system can achieve.
When the dream almost died
Her story, however, has not been without struggle. In her early days, Margaret faced one of the most disheartening experiences any farmer can go through; watching her investment wither away. The breed she had bought was of poor quality, and the laying rates were alarmingly low.
Instead of the expected thirty trays of eggs per day from one thousand layers, she was getting barely half of that. The cost of feed ballooned, yet the income was a trickle. She had taken a bank loan, which only added pressure. Eventually, she could no longer sustain her flock. With great disappointment, she sold them at Kshs. Four hundred and fifty each, incurring huge losses.
Disillusioned, Margaret abandoned poultry farming for almost a year. But the dream never completely left her. “I knew deep down that poultry had potential, I just needed the right partners,” she recalls.
The power of partnerships
Her comeback began when she partnered with Kenchic, ensuring access to quality chicks and expert guidance. This time, her production shot up to 80–90%, proving what she had believed all along: with the right foundation, poultry farming could be profitable.
Still, one obstacle remained; access to capital. Feeds, vaccines, and expansion required financing that was reliable, quick, and transparent. That was when Margaret crossed paths with Yehu Microfinance Services.
Enter Yehu: a lifeline for agripreneurs
She first heard of Yehu through another woman farmer, who told her about their services and community-based approach. Curious, Margaret attended a meeting and signed up. It turned out to be one of the best decisions she ever made.
Her very first loan of Kshs. 50,000 was disbursed the same day in the evening, allowing her to purchase feed when she needed it most. From there, she steadily built her credit and trust with Yehu:
• Kshs. 100,000 business loan for deworming and vaccinations.
• Sikukuu loan to cover urgent needs like vitamins for her chicks.
• Kshs. 150,000business loan for large-scale vaccination of her growing flocks.
The efficiency impressed her. Unlike some traditional lenders, Yehu didn’t bury her in paperwork or delay disbursements. “Yehu always comes to my rescue,” Margaret affirms. “They believe in me when others hesitate. With their support, I know I can grow this business to 30,000 layers and beyond.”
Her comparison with mainstream lenders is telling. At one point, she applied for a Kshs. 1.2 million loan from a commercial bank. After waiting for more than two months, she only received Kshs. 700,000, the rest lost to unexplained deductions. In contrast, Yehu’s processes were transparent, fast, and designed with entrepreneurs like her in mind.
A vision beyond eggs
Margaret’s vision today is bold: to grow her poultry farm to 30,000 layers. With each milestone, she sees not just the promise of personal success, but also the ripple effect her business can have; creating jobs, reducing reliance on imports, and strengthening food security in Mombasa and beyond.
For her, Yehu isn’t just a lender; it’s a partner in that journey. Its community-based model, transparent terms, and unwavering support have given her both financial stability and the confidence to dream bigger.
The bigger picture
Margaret’s story mirrors that of many entrepreneurs across Kenya who are rewriting the rules of agribusiness with the support of microfinance institutions like Yehu. By bridging the gaps left by traditional lenders, Yehu is enabling communities to rise from setbacks, scale their enterprises, and create impact within their communities.
Margaret’s resilience, combined with Yehu’s trust and timely support, has turned what once felt like a failed dream into a thriving reality. Her journey is a living example of what can happen when determination meets the right partner.
HOW REV. JOB MUNYAO IS BUILDING A LEGACY WITH YEHU MICROFINANCE
For Rev. Job Munyao, a pastor with the Kenya Assemblies of God and a farmer based in Majengo, faith and hard work go hand in hand. Though his roots are in Kwale, he has built his livelihood in Majengo through agriculture, livestock rearing, and most recently, property development — a journey he proudly says would not have been possible without the partnership of Yehu Microfinance Services.
From Poultry to Fruits and Livestock
Like many entrepreneurs, Rev. Munyao’s path has been shaped by trial and resilience. In 2023, he ventured into poultry farming, but rising feed costs and declining market prices quickly turned the business into an unsustainable venture. “It was a lot of work for very little pay,” he recalls. Not one to give up, he shifted his focus to livestock and fruit farming. Today, he tends to one hundred and thirty thriving orange trees, strategically grown in Majengo where the market is close at hand.
Discovering Yehu
Rev. Munyao first encountered Yehu in 2020 after noticing the steady progress of the UmojaMajengo group in his community. Curious, he attended one of their meetings and spoke to the credit officer at the time.
What he discovered impressed him.
Unlike traditional financial institutions,Yehu’s model was accessible, transparent, and community-driven. The absence of collateral requirements and the efficiency of the loan process gave him the confidence to sign up. Soon after, he received his first loan, and the partnership has only grown stronger since. “I took a loan and decided that I should put this land to use, so I built shops for rent. All the shops you see on this compound are a testimony of how Yehu has been of great help,” he explains.
Building with Security and Vision
For Rev. Munyao, Yehu has provided more than just credit; it has given him a sense of security. With the loan support, he was able to complete a row of rental shops on his property, turning idle land into a steady source of income. This diversification has not only strengthened his financial position but also created opportunities within his community.
“Yehu has never disappointed me,” he says firmly. “Their services are timely, and they give us the confidence to dream bigger.”
The Next Goal: Water Security
Looking ahead, his vision is clear. Rev. Munyao wants to drill a borehole in Kwale to support his livestock and fruit farming enterprises during the dry spells. Beyond sustaining his farm, the borehole would serve as a vital community resource by providing water for sale during drought seasons; reducing post-harvest losses, while creating a new revenue stream.
“I want to venture more into agriculture, and I am hoping Yehu will help me make this a reality. With a borehole, losses from drought will no longer hold us back,” he notes.
A Call for tailored products and unity
While praising Yehu’s speed and trust-based lending model, Rev. Munyao suggests that the institution could go even further by designing products tailored to large, long-term projects like boreholes. Flexible repayment terms, he believes, would allow farmers like him to invest in life-changing infrastructure without straining their cash flows.
And his message to fellow Yehu members? Simple but powerful: “Stay united, because success is always in a room full of people.”
