Lobei, Turkana-21st December 2024 (Public Communications and Media Relations)

Aberu Loima Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (SACCO), a recently established entity to drive financial inclusion in Turkana County, has received a major boost after the First Lady of Turkana, Lilian Ekamais, spearheaded a membership recruitment drive that registered 150 new members.

The event, held in Lobei, served as a public sensitization campaign about the economic benefits of SACCOs and aligned with Turkana County’s broader efforts to enhance financial inclusion, particularly for women and youth who remain underserved by traditional financial institutions.

Speaking at the event, the First Lady lauded the county’s leadership for its commitment to empowering women through cooperative initiatives.

“We are looking forward to using Aberu Loima SACCO to inspire confidence in women, enabling them to venture into financial enterprises and achieve economic independence,” she said.

Aberu Loima SACCO’s leadership used the platform to announce transformative strategies, including digitization of operations, introduction of client-focused financial products, and an aggressive push to expand membership.

Director for Cooperatives and Marketing, Shemmy Ebulon, emphasized that the active involvement of senior county officials, including the First Lady and other leaders, would be instrumental in achieving these objectives.

“The goal is to reach tens of thousands of women eligible for membership, starting with Loima and eventually covering the entire county. This marks a new era for cooperative movements in Turkana,” Ebulon said.

The SACCO also made history as the first in Turkana to launch a digital-based membership recruitment drive, setting a precedent for other cooperatives in the region.

The event brought together Women in top county leadership positions, including CECMs Roseline Aite (Trade, Cooperatives, and Gender) and Audan Leah Lokala (Tourism, Culture, Natural Resources, and Climate Change) who reiterated the importance of SACCOs as a pathway to financial independence and economic growth for women.

Chief Officer for Education and Vocational Training Leah Losiru, Director of Administration Ruth Shilla, Lokiriama Deputy Sub-County Administrator Pauline Ngakipi, Loima Sub-County Cooperatives Officer James Akorot, and Ekipor Sofari were also present.

Kenya’s SACCO sector is a cornerstone of the economy, with over 23,000 registered SACCOs managing an estimated net worth of KSh 1.1 trillion. In Turkana, the County’s drive to campaign for new SACCOs has resulted in registration of more than 250 groups across all sectors of the economy.

SACCOs account for over 35% of Kenya’s national savings and play a critical role in enhancing financial inclusion, creating jobs, and improving living standards.

According to Director Shemmy Ebulon, SACCOs empower members to pool resources, access credit at favorable rates, and build financial resilience.

“In regions like Turkana, where traditional banking services are limited, SACCOs can be a lifeline for communities. The County highly encourages women to embrace the movement even from the village level savings and loans associations (VSLAs) or even join the already well established SACCOs like Aberu Loima,” Director Shemmy Ebulon added.

Aberu Loima SACCO’s focus on women and youth aligns with this vision, addressing historical financial exclusion and catalyzing economic growth.