SACCO funding refers to the financial resources provided by the government, development partners, and other stakeholders to SACCOs. The funding aims to help SACCOs grow and develop. This is through the improvement of their operations and the promotion of financial inclusion in Kenya.

Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) are a critical component of Kenya’s financial sector. This is due to their role in providing access to financial services to millions of Kenyans. SACCOs have a long history in Kenya, dating back to the early 20th century. They have played an essential role in promoting financial inclusion. This is key in supporting economic growth, particularly in rural areas where there formal banking services are limited. In recent years, the Kenyan government has recognized the importance of SACCOs and has provided funding to support their growth. Funding for SACCOs comes in different forms. This could be through grants, low-interest loans, and capacity-building and training programs.

The Kenyan government has been at the forefront of providing funding to SACCOs in Kenya. The government’s support for SACCOs is driven by its commitment to promoting financial inclusion and supporting economic growth. The government recognizes that SACCOs play a crucial role in promoting financial inclusion, particularly for low-income individuals and small businesses. As such, the government has put in place several initiatives to support SACCOs. This is through funds such as

The Hustler fund

The proposed Hustler Fund initiative in Kenya aims to support youth and women in entrepreneurship and economic empowerment. This, therefore, brings SACCOs into play as the youth and women are recommended to be part of a SACCO or Chama, so as to benefit from the Hustler fund.

The Hustler fund is set to complement SACCOs’ efforts in supporting economic empowerment. By partnering with the Hustler Fund, SACCOs are set to increase their reach and impact. This is especially in areas where SACCOs have limited presence or resources.

As an additional resource to SACCOs, the Hustler fund will provide an additional resource for SACCOs and enable them to increase their lending capacity and support more members.

Moreover, the Hustler Fund initiative may also provide an opportunity for SACCOs to diversify their products and services, especially for youth and women. SACCOs may develop products tailored to the specific needs of the target demographic, such as youth entrepreneurship loans, which may attract more members and increase their relevance in the market.

It is indisputable that the Hustler Fund initiative has the potential to impact SACCOs positively. There is a need for SACCOs to strategize and collaborate with the Hustler Fund initiative to ensure sustainable economic empowerment for all members, especially youth and women.

Cooperative Development Fund(CDF)

The Cooperative Development Fund is a government fund that serves to provide support to cooperatives in Kenya. This includes Savings and Credit Cooperatives.

The CDF helps to ensure that the SACCOs have access to affordable credit by providing low-interest loans to SACCOs. This in turn enables them to provide affordable credit to their members. Therefore, the provision of loans promotes financial inclusion as SACCOs are able to increase access to credit for low-income individuals.

The Cooperative Development fund also promotes cooperative values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity among SACCOs. This helps to strengthen the cooperative movement in Kenya and promote the growth and development of SACCOs.

The Youth Enterprise Development Fund(YEDF)

The Youth Enterprise Development Fund(YEDF) is a government fund that provides financial support to young entrepreneurs in Kenya. This includes those who are members of SACCOs.

It, therefore, has had a positive impact on SACCOs in the following ways:

• Increased loan demand. The Youth Enterprise Development Fund has created a platform for the youth to access affordable credit, which has in turn increased the demand for loans from SACCOs. This has led to the SACCOs increasing their loan portfolios thus resulting in increased revenue.
• Reduced default rates: The YEDF has enabled youth entrepreneurs to improve their business management skills. This has reduced the default rates on loans issued by SACCOs, thereby reducing the risk associated with lending.
• Increased investment and sustainability in SACCOs: The YEDF has made it easier for the youth to join SACCOs by providing funding to start-ups. This has led to an increase in investment in SACCOs by the youth, which has helped to increase the capital base of the SACCOs. In addition to that, by reducing the risk associated with lending to youth entrepreneurs, SACCOs are becoming more sustainable.

The Women Enterprise Fund

The Women Enterprise Fund is a government fund in Kenya that provides financial support to women entrepreneurs. This includes those who are members of SACCOs. The Women Enterprise Fund leads to increased access to credit for women. This is because it provides low-interest loans to women entrepreneurs. This serves to enable women to access affordable credit which in turn enables them to start or expand their businesses. This helps in promoting women’s entrepreneurship.

The Women Enterprise Fund also serves to ensure gender equality. This is by providing women entrepreneurs and providing them with access to financial resources. Through this, women are able to take up leadership positions in the SACCOs and thus promotive gender equality within the cooperative environment.

Other sources of funding

In addition to government funding, SACCOs also receive support from development partners and other stakeholders. For example, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has provided funding to SACCOs in Kenya to support their lending activities and capacity-building initiatives.

Other stakeholders, such as NGOs and private foundations, have also provided funding and technical assistance to SACCOs.

Also, the tax exemption policy for SACCOs has also had a positive impact on their operations and sustainability. SACCOs have been able to retain more funds for their licensing activities and member benefits. This has led to an improvement in their financial stability and sustainability.

The impact of SACCO funding on economic growth and financial inclusion in Kenya cannot be overstated. SACCOs have played a critical role in promoting financial inclusion and supporting economic growth. This is particularly in rural areas where formal banking services are limited. SACCO funding has enabled SACCOs to expand their reach, improve their operations, and provide affordable credit to low-income individuals and small businesses. This has helped to promote entrepreneurship, job creation, and economic development in Kenya.

In conclusion, SACCO funding provided by the government has had a significant impact on promoting financial inclusion and economic growth in Kenya. Through initiatives such as the Cooperative Development Fund, Women Enterprise Fund, and Youth Enterprise Development Fund, SACCOs have been able to increase their lending capacity, provide affordable credit and capacity-building opportunities to their members, and diversify their lending portfolios. The tax-exemption policy for SACCOs has also improved their financial stability and sustainability. As SACCOs continue to play a critical role in promoting financial inclusion and supporting small businesses in Kenya, the government’s continued support through funding initiatives will be crucial to their success and growth.

References:

• https://www.kuscco.com/index.php/background/92-ticker/116-government-to-give-saccos-tax-relief-says-president-kenyatta
• https://www.sasra.go.ke/2023/02/13/government-pledges-support-for-the-sacco-central-initiative/