SASRA: Kenya Sacco Membership Growth Adds 480,000 New Members

• Kenyan Saccos gained 480,000 new members last year, bringing the total to 7.87 million in 2025.
• Deposit-taking Saccos saw a 6.93% membership increase, while non-withdrawable Saccos grew by 2.22%.
• The Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA) attributes this growth to increased confidence and strategic member mobilization.
• Despite overall growth, dormant accounts in deposit-taking Saccos surged by 15.75% to 1.69 million.
• SASRA has urged Saccos to develop new financial products and conduct surveys to address the root causes of member dormancy.

The regulator underscored that the significant proportion of inactive members within the regulated Sacco sector necessitates immediate and coordinated efforts for reactivation.

The cooperative financial sector in Kenya experienced significant growth last year, with Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (Saccos) attracting an additional 480,000 members. This expansion signals a burgeoning trust and confidence in these financial institutions among the Kenyan populace. According to the latest SASRA SACCO Supervision Annual Report, the total membership across regulated Saccos reached 7.87 million in 2025, marking a notable increase from 7.39 million recorded in 2024.

Deposit-taking Saccos were a primary driver of this growth, witnessing their membership swell by 6.93 percent, culminating in a total of 7.36 million members. Concurrently, non-withdrawable deposit-taking Saccos also contributed to the overall Kenyan cooperative societies growth, with their membership rising by 2.22 percent to 526,115 individuals. The Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA) views this substantial increase in the membership base of regulated Saccos as a clear indicator of their growing acceptance and reliability within the domestic financial services landscape.

SASRA further elaborated that the rise in membership for non-withdrawable deposit-taking Saccos was partly due to the authorization of three new societies to operate in this segment. Additionally, sustained and effective member mobilization strategies implemented by various Saccos played a crucial role in attracting new participants to the sector. These deposit-taking Saccos statistics Kenya underscore the sector's expanding reach and its role in financial inclusion Kenya.

Despite the impressive Kenya Sacco membership growth SASRA reported, the sector faces a significant challenge with an escalating number of dormant accounts. The SASRA SACCO Supervision Annual Report highlighted a concerning trend: dormant accounts within deposit-taking Saccos increased by 15.75 percent, reaching a substantial 1.69 million. This rise in inactive accounts presents a potential drag on the sector's overall health and efficiency.

In response to this growing issue, SASRA has issued a clear call for action, emphasizing that the high proportion of dormant members within the regulated Sacco sector demands concerted efforts for their reactivation. The regulator specifically recommended that Saccos develop and roll out suitable financial products and services designed to re-engage inactive members. Furthermore, SASRA underscored the imperative for regulated Sacco societies to conduct thorough surveys to identify and understand the root causes of this Sacco dormant accounts increase.

The directives from SASRA regarding dormant accounts carry significant weight for Sacco operations and compliance. The regulator's emphasis on proactive measures, such as tailored financial products and comprehensive root cause analysis, signals a potential shift towards more stringent expectations for member engagement and retention. This focus aligns with the broader goal of enhancing financial inclusion Kenya by ensuring active participation and benefit from cooperative financial services.

Lawyers advising Saccos in Kenya should note SASRA's call for action on increasing dormant accounts, which could lead to new regulatory guidance or compliance requirements for member reactivation strategies. Compliance officers within Saccos should prepare to address these directives and potentially conduct internal surveys as recommended by the regulator. The findings from these surveys and the effectiveness of new product offerings will likely be key areas of regulatory scrutiny in future assessments, influencing the strategic direction and operational priorities for Saccos across the country.

Lawyers advising Saccos in Kenya should note SASRA's call for action on increasing dormant accounts, which could lead to new regulatory guidance or compliance requirements for member reactivation strategies. Compliance officers within Saccos should prepare to address these directives and potentially conduct internal surveys as recommended by the regulator.

Source: Original reporting via Capital FM