By WAKHUNGU ANDANJE
March 31, 2026| IG Sacco, one of Kakamega County’s largest savings and credit cooperatives, has wrapped up its 2026 member education programme with a virtual session that signaled a significant shift toward digital engagement.
The final training, held via Zooom Meeting on March 28, marked the culmination of a series of in-person forums conducted across electoral wards in Kakamega County. Organizers opted for an online format to widen participation and offer members the convenience of joining from home or work.
The move reflects a growing trend among cooperatives embracing digital platforms to improve service delivery and boost member participation.
The education programme—a cornerstone of the Sacco’s member engagement strategy—aims to equip members with skills in financial literacy, investment planning, and cooperative operations. Sessions covered personal financial management, investment opportunities, and Sacco products.
Peter Vuhya, the Sacco’s Chief Executive Officer, described continuous member education as essential to building a strong savings culture and ensuring the stability of the cooperative.
“The online session brought together key players across the country, providing a platform for interaction, learning, and feedback,” he said.
Vuhya noted that the Sacco has recently increased investment in digital tools, aligning with broader technological shifts.
“Digital literacy is the way to go. We encourage our members to fully embrace it, as it is quickly becoming the new norm,” he added.
The virtual format allowed members to seek clarification, receive product updates, and inquire about the Sacco’s performance in real time.
Strong Performance and Growth
The digital push comes amid a period of solid financial growth for the Sacco. According to financial results for the year ending December 31, 2025, assets rose to KSh 16.306 billion—an 11.2 per cent increase from the previous year. Income climbed to KSh 2.281 billion, up 14 per cent from KSh 1.999 billion in 2024.
The loan portfolio grew 15.6 per cent to KSh 14.602 billion, while non-withdrawable deposits increased 11.1 per cent to KSh 8.221 billion.
Membership also expanded, rising from 1,325 new members in 2024 to 2,219 in 2025. The Sacco now has 28,917 members, with more than 18,000 FOSA salary earners.
Outgoing Chairman Kennedy Keya attributed membership growth to aggressive marketing in schools across Tiriki, Mumias, Butere, Lurambi, Ikolomani, Kabras, Vihiga, and Emuhaya—where newly employed teachers were recruited.
“Membership growth has been driven by continuous contributions to share capital and monthly subscriptions, guided by the Sacco’s strategic plan,” Keya said.
Digital Loans and Policy Reforms
The Sacco plans to digitize all lending platforms—both BOSA and FOSA—in the near future, building on existing digital loan products such as E-FOSA, E-loan, E-salary and pension advance, and E-dividend advance. Digitization of short-term loans in both categories is currently underway, following the streamlining of e-guarantorship and credit scoring systems.
In a message delivered during the education forums, the Sacco assured members that once the Cooperative Societies Act and the Sacco By-laws 2024 are enacted, members will enjoy additional benefits. The ongoing amendments, underway since 2005, are expected to be completed by 2027.
“The Sacco sincerely appreciates your continued business support and patronage, which has enabled us to realize steady performance, and we are aligning our by-laws to serve you even better,” the statement read.
Leadership Transition and Elections
With elections scheduled later this year, members in Tiriki, Mumias, Butere, and Lurambi will vote for directorship positions, while those in Kakamega County A (Mumias, Butere, and Ikolomani) will elect a supervisory committee member.
CEO Vuhya paid tribute to outgoing Chairman Kennedy Keya for his leadership, which he said had steered the Sacco to greater heights.
“As we wish our chairman a happy exit, we also call upon the incoming team to strongly build our cooperative foundation and steer IG Sacco to the next level, as stipulated in our 2023–2027 strategic plan,” Vuhya said.
The Sacco’s 2026 education programme concluded with a call for members to continue embracing digital platforms as the cooperative positions itself for a technology-driven future.