Kenyans now have a two-week opportunity to provide feedback on proposed modifications to the nation’s Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs).
The National Assembly on April 14 invited citizens to contribute to multiple Bills under review, such as the SACCO Bill, with submissions due by April 24, 2026, at 5pm.
The SACCO reforms outlined in the Sacco Societies Amendment Bill aim to implement comprehensive transformations in the structure and governance of cooperative societies across Kenya.
This legislation, introduced by the National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, seeks to enhance supervision and stability within the cooperative sector.
A significant proposal involves establishing umbrella organizations to coordinate activities among primary SACCOs, especially in liquidity management and shared financial services.
Furthermore, the Bill includes measures to enable the implementation of the Deposit Guarantee Fund, which is intended to safeguard members’ savings during financial difficulties or when SACCO institutions fail.
The proposed changes also address governance structures, covering the appointment of board members to the Deposit Guarantee Fund.
These modifications aim to improve accountability, transparency, and professionalism in cooperative society management.
Presently, Kenya has 176 Deposit Taking SACCOs and more than 200 Non-Deposit Taking SACCOs, all supervised by the Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA).
During the announcement, National Assembly Clerk Samuel Njoroge highlighted that all submissions would be evaluated before the Bill advances to subsequent stages.
Citizens can obtain Bill copies at the Main Parliament Buildings in Nairobi or via the Parliament website. Submissions may be delivered in person to the Clerk’s office or emailed:
This announcement follows shortly after remarks by Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wyckliffe regarding institutions that have not met fundamental accountability requirements.
Speaking to stakeholders on April 10, 2026, Oparanya revealed that among Kenya’s 13,000 registered Saccos, only 2,700 regularly submit annual returns to the Office of the Commissioner for Co-operatives as mandated by law.
This indicates that the majority, exceeding 10,000, have not complied for multiple years, prompting concerns about transparency, governance, and the security of members’ deposits.
‘This situation compromises accountability principles and threatens public trust in the cooperative sector. Regulations mandate all registered Saccos to submit returns to the Commissioner for Cooperatives, and non-compliance will no longer be accepted,’ Oparanya stated.