SACCO Directory Kenya 2026: Top 30 SACCOs by Members + Dividend History

Kenya has 175+ SASRA-licensed deposit-taking SACCOs holding over KES 1 trillion in assets. They serve more people than the entire commercial banking sector for one reason: a SACCO loan costs roughly half of what a bank charges, and members get the profit back as dividends.

This is the directory. The 30 largest SACCOs ranked by membership, with the numbers you actually need before joining: loan rates, dividend payout, minimum monthly contribution, and what it takes to qualify. Updated April 2026 from each SACCO's published 2024 financial year statements.

TL;DR — The 5 SACCOs worth a serious look in 2026

• Tower DT SACCO — paid the highest 2024 dividend at 20%. Open membership.
• Stima DT SACCO — Kenya's largest by members (1M+). Open membership, 15% dividend, 12% loan rate.
• Mwalimu National SACCO — Africa's largest SACCO by assets (KES 68.9B). Teachers and TSC employees only.
• Unaitas DT SACCO — best loan rate at 11% reducing balance, plus KMRC mortgages from 9.5%.
• Harambee SACCO — civil-servant SACCO with the cheapest mortgage in Kenya: 9% via KMRC.

Skip the table and browse the full SACCO directory if you want filters by county, employer, or dividend rate.

Top 30 Kenyan SACCOs by Members (2026)

Loan rates are reducing balance APR. Dividend percentages are share-capital dividends declared on 2024 financial year results. SASRA license status verified April 2026.

What "deposit-taking" actually means (and why it matters)

A deposit-taking SACCO (DT-SACCO) is licensed by SASRA — the Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority — to accept deposits like a bank. Non-deposit-taking SACCOs (BOSA only) can only take share contributions. The difference matters because DT-SACCOs:

• Operate FOSA accounts you can deposit and withdraw from
• Are insured under the Deposit Guarantee Fund (up to KES 100,000 per member)
• Publish audited financials annually
• Must hold capital reserves SASRA reviews

If a SACCO can't show you its SASRA license number, walk away. Every entry in the directory above is a verified DT-SACCO.

SACCO loan rates vs bank loan rates

This is the headline reason 6 million Kenyans hold SACCO membership. Compare the same KES 500,000 personal loan over 36 months:

Saving on a single KES 500K loan: ~KES 50,000 over three years. That's why teachers, civil servants, and police have stayed in Mwalimu, Harambee, and Kenya Police SACCOs for 50 years. The math doesn't change.

Deep dive: The 10 SACCOs Kenyans search for most

This list is built from search demand, not membership rank. These are the SACCOs Kenyans actively look up.

1. Stima DT SACCO — Kenya's largest by members

Founded in 1974 for energy-sector workers. Stima opened to general membership in 2010 and now has over a million members across 14 branches. KES 66.5 billion in assets makes it the second-largest SACCO in Kenya by balance sheet.

• Loan rate: 12% reducing balance, up to 4x savings
• Min savings: KES 1,000/month
• 2024 dividend: 15%
• Open to: Any salaried or self-employed Kenyan
• Standout product: Diaspora savings accounts in USD/EUR/GBP

2. Unaitas DT SACCO — best loan rate

Unaitas runs the cheapest standard personal loan rate among the top 30 SACCOs at 11% reducing balance. Their KMRC partnership delivers home loans from 9.5%, undercutting most banks by 4-6 percentage points.

• Loan rate: 11% reducing balance, up to 4x savings
• Min savings: KES 500/month
• 2024 dividend: 13%
• Open to: General membership
• Standout product: KMRC home loan at 9.5%

3. Tower DT SACCO — highest 2024 dividend

Paid 20% on share capital for 2024. Tower has open membership, 250,000+ members, and KES 28 billion in assets. The high dividend reflects a conservative loan book and strong investment income — historically Tower has paid 16-20% for the past five years.

• Loan rate: 12% reducing balance, up to 3x savings
• Min savings: KES 500/month
• 2024 dividend: 20%
• Open to: Any Kenyan with regular income

4. Mwalimu National SACCO — Africa's biggest by assets

KES 68.9 billion in assets. 123,000 members. Restricted to teachers and Teachers Service Commission (TSC) employees. The dividend has run 13-15% consistently for a decade.

• Loan rate: 12% reducing balance, up to 3x savings
• Min savings: KES 1,000/month
• 2024 dividend: 14%
• Open to: TSC-employed teachers only
• Standout product: Welfare program covering medical and bereavement

5. Harambee SACCO — cheapest mortgage in Kenya

Founded in 1970 for civil servants and government employees. Harambee's KMRC-funded mortgage runs at 9% — currently the lowest available in Kenya for a fully amortising home loan.

• Loan rate: 12% reducing balance (personal); 9% mortgage
• Min savings: KES 500/month
• 2024 dividend: 13%
• Open to: Government, civil service, parastatal employees
• Standout product: KMRC mortgage at 9%

6. Maisha Bora SACCO — open community SACCO with 25,000+ members

Established 1995. Open to any Kenyan with verifiable monthly income. Smaller than the giants — KES 5 billion in assets — but with a personal-service reputation and consistent 12% dividend track record.

• Loan rate: 12% reducing balance, up to 3x savings
• Min savings: KES 500/month
• 2024 dividend: 12%
• Open to: General public
• Branches: 4 (all in Nairobi metro)

7. Waumini SACCO — Catholic community heritage, open today

Founded 1980 for the Catholic community. Open membership since 2004. KES 10 billion in assets, 30,000 members, five branches.

• Loan rate: 12% reducing balance, up to 3x savings
• Min savings: KES 500/month
• 2024 dividend: 12%
• Open to: General public

8. Sheria SACCO — judiciary roots, 16% dividend

Originally for judiciary and legal professionals. Now open to businesspeople and individuals. The 16% dividend ranks among the top 10 in the country.

• Loan rate: 12% reducing balance, up to 3x savings
• Min savings: KES 1,000/month
• 2024 dividend: 16%
• Open to: Originally judiciary; now general membership

9. Gusii Mwalimu SACCO — regional teachers' SACCO, Kisii

Top-10 ranked teachers' SACCO with KES 9.5 billion in assets. Strong reputation for school-fee loans tied to the academic calendar.

• Loan rate: 12% reducing balance, up to 3x savings
• Min savings: KES 500/month
• 2024 dividend: 13%
• Open to: Teachers in the Gusii region

10. Jamii SACCO — most tech-forward in the top 30

Ranked top-10 for technology optimisation by SASRA. Mobile banking, app-based loan application, USSD self-service. Open membership.

• Loan rate: 12% reducing balance, up to 3x savings
• Min savings: KES 500/month
• 2024 dividend: 13%
• Open to: General public

How to choose a SACCO (the framework that actually works)

Most "best SACCO" advice is generic. Here's the decision tree that produces an answer specific to your situation.

Step 1 — Eligibility filter

Are you a teacher (TSC), police officer, civil servant, or in a specific employer scheme? If yes, your employer SACCO will almost always beat any open-membership SACCO because of payroll deduction, larger maximum loan multiples, and employer-aligned products. Check Mwalimu (teachers), Harambee (civil service), Kenya Police, Magereza (prisons), Afya (health workers), Stima (energy).

If no employer SACCO applies, move to Step 2.

Step 2 — Loan rate vs dividend trade-off

If you'll borrow within 18 months: prioritise loan rate. Unaitas at 11% beats Tower at 12% on a 3-year loan by ~KES 7,000 per KES 500K borrowed — much more than a 1-2 percentage point dividend gap will return on your share capital.

If you're saving for 3+ years before borrowing: prioritise dividend. Tower's 20%, Hazina's 17%, Sheria's 16%, and Cosmopolitan's 16% compound on share capital that's anyway not earning a banking interest rate.

Step 3 — Branch and digital access

If you bank physically and aren't in Nairobi metro, check the county column in the table above. Trans Nation, 2NK, and Nafaka serve Nakuru. Imarika serves Mombasa. K-Unity is Kiambu. Gusii Mwalimu serves Kisii. Bingwa and Muki are Murang'a.

If you bank by phone: Stima, Unaitas, Mwalimu, and Jamii have the strongest mobile/USSD experiences in our testing.

Step 4 — Minimum savings and maximum loan multiplier

Most SACCOs require a 6-month savings history before any loan. Multipliers range from 3x to 4x your accumulated savings. To borrow KES 1M, you need KES 250-333K in deposited savings. Plan backwards from your target loan amount.

How to join a SACCO (5 steps, 3-7 days)

1. Pick your SACCO using the framework above.
2. Get the application form from the SACCO's website or branch. You'll need a copy of your ID, two recent payslips (or 3 months of M-Pesa statements if self-employed), and one passport photo.
3. Pay the entry fee (KES 1,000-3,000 depending on SACCO) and your first month's share contribution.
4. Get two existing members to introduce you (most SACCOs require this — branch staff can pair you with introducers if you don't know any).
5. Wait 6 months of consistent contributions before applying for your first loan. Some SACCOs allow emergency loans after 3 months.

SACCO vs bank vs mobile lender — when each wins

A mature financial life in Kenya typically means a bank account for salary, a SACCO for borrowing and long-term savings, and a mobile wallet for emergencies. Few people pick one.

Frequently asked questions

Are SACCOs in Kenya safe?

Deposit-taking SACCOs are licensed and supervised by SASRA. Member deposits are insured up to KES 100,000 per person under the Deposit Guarantee Fund. The 175+ DT-SACCOs hold over KES 1 trillion in assets and have a track record stronger than most micro-banks.

What is the highest dividend SACCO in Kenya?

For the 2024 financial year, Tower DT SACCO paid 20%, Ndege Chai paid 18.5%, Hazina paid 17%, Sheria paid 16%, and Cosmopolitan paid 16%. Past dividend rates do not guarantee future payouts — check the most recent AGM results before joining.

What's the cheapest SACCO loan rate?

Unaitas DT SACCO charges 11% reducing balance on standard personal loans — the lowest in the top 30. Most other major SACCOs charge 12% reducing balance. SACCO mortgages funded by KMRC start from 9% (Harambee) and 9.5% (Unaitas).

Can I join more than one SACCO?

Yes. Many Kenyans hold membership in their employer SACCO (for the loan rate and payroll deduction) plus a community SACCO like Tower or Maisha Bora (for the higher dividend). There's no regulatory limit.

How long until I can borrow from a SACCO?

Most SACCOs require six months of consistent monthly contributions before approving your first loan. A few — including Unaitas and Stima — allow emergency loans after three months for verified members.

What documents do I need to join a SACCO?

National ID, KRA PIN, two recent payslips (or 3 months of bank/M-Pesa statements if self-employed), one passport photo, and an introducer or two existing members in good standing. Some SACCOs accept WhatsApp-based onboarding now; most still need a branch visit.

Can a SACCO loan affect my CRB score?

Yes. SACCO loans are reported to CRBs (Credit Reference Bureaus) like bank loans. Default and your CRB profile is impacted. Pay on time and your SACCO loan history strengthens your overall credit profile.

Which SACCO is best for low-income earners?

Nafaka SACCO has the lowest minimum monthly contribution at KES 300. Maisha Bora, Tower, Unaitas, and most other open-membership SACCOs accept KES 500/month. For income under KES 20,000/month, prioritise SACCOs that don't penalise short payment gaps.

The bottom line

If you have an employer-tied SACCO, that's almost always your best option — it was built for your earning pattern and offers payroll deduction. If you don't, the four SACCOs to seriously evaluate in 2026 are Tower (highest dividend), Unaitas (lowest loan rate + cheap mortgage), Stima (largest, most stable), and Maisha Bora (community-focused, open membership).

Browse all 56 SACCOs in our complete SACCO directory, compare loan terms with our SACCO loans guide, or read our SACCO vs bank loan comparison for a deeper look at when each makes sense.

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Data sources: SACCO published 2024 audited accounts, SASRA Annual Report 2024, individual SACCO websites verified April 2026. We update this directory quarterly. If you spot an outdated rate or missing SACCO, contact us.