<The team of the young agripreneurs from Nakuru County>
We held a meeting with young agripreneurs from Nakuru County. They were interested in partnering with us to help the Sacco grow. They were referred to Mama Milele Sacco by the government official (in partnership with The National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP)), as we had maintained high level of performance throughout the years.
We briefed these agripreneurs on our operations and objectives. We highlighted the key objectives of our Sacco, as shown below;
1. Promote thrift among its members who are mainly women.
2. Provide an opportunity for members to improve their economic and social conditions.
3. Strengthen progress of the members by providing continuous education on the proper use of credit.
4. Generate income by engaging in other mechanisms of outsourcing for funds.
They appreciated our efforts and commitment to empowering the community members. Furthermore, they were also pleased that our objectives were in line with theirs, which attracted them more to work with us. They stressed the need to integrate values held by the NAVCDP in our entity. They could help adopt agricultural projects such as cotton and dairy goat farming, as one of the pillars for strengthening economic growth of our community members. Specifically, they demonstrated their commitment in partnering with Mama Milele in enhancing value chain development, improving climate-smart agriculture, and strengthening access to market for the agricultural produce and the underlying financial resources. This was a very important development for our entity, as it could help accelerate the attainment our goals and objectives.
<Mama Milele Chairperson briefing the members on the progress>
This was an Annual General Meeting for Mama Milele Sacco, Held in the public hall of Gilgil-National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) offices. It was noted that the entity had grown immensely, as the statement of financial reserve showed that the SACCO had wealth that accumulated to the tune of Ksh. 7,000,000.
Mama Milele SACCO had equally benefited about 10 groups with approximately 417 members. Their economic activities were funded by loans that were granted by the Sacco, thus, underscoring its critical role in catalyzing economic growth amongst the most vulnerable groups. The Sacco had also offered loans to several people on their individual capacities. It is important noting that the loans were offered on favorable terms such as having low interest rates and longer grace periods. These provisions were crucial considering that Kenya was in a very critical economic recession state. To keep on providing reliable loans to it members, Mama Milele agreed that it had the power to borrow an external debt of up to Ksh. 2,500,000. This was meant to ensure that no one was denied loan provided that he had the potential of repaying.
<A group photo with officials and partners>
It was also reported that the Sacco had partnered with The National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), which was a viable partnership between the World Bank and the Government of Kenya. This was meant to empower small-scale farmers by enabling them venture into profitable and climate-smart agriculture. Thus, the entity was set to benefit from this program by accessing funds on behalf of these farmers, who were majorly the rural women.
Lastly, Mama Milele Sacco continued to shine, as it was voted as the best performing women’s Sacco in the larger Nakuru County. This demonstrated its continued commitment to empowering people economically and socially with women playing a pivotal role.
<Medals won for being the best performing Sacco in the Larger Nakuru County>
The Motto of the SACCO is based on a Bible Verse [Psalms 127:1], which says “UNLESS THE LORD BUILD’S A HOUSE, THE BUILDER LABOURS IN VAIN.”
Subsequently, Mama Milele has its foundation in GOD, Almighty.
Objectives of the SACCO
1. Promote thrift among its members who are mainly women.
The members are afforded an opportunity to accumulate their savings and deposits.
Conversely, this creates a source of fund from which loans can be availed to these members without requiring them to have title deeds or other sureties for purposes of providence.
These loans are also offered at reasonable and fair interest rates.
2. Provide an opportunity for members to improve their economic and social conditions.
3. Strengthen progress of the members by providing continuous education on the proper use of credit.
Such education is crucial for ensuring safety and soundness of members’ funds through risk management programme or any other appropriate insurance scheme.
4. Generate income by engaging in other mechanisms of outsourcing for funds.
For example, this entails engaging in viable projects such as profitable horticultural farming.
Sources of Funds
1. Monthly contributions from members of the SACCO.
2. Ploughed back interests.
Interest earned from the cash in bank.
Interest earned from table banking initiatives.
3. Reasonable recruitment fees from new members.
Activities Involved
1. Savings and Credit
2. Alternative income generating initiatives such as farming.
3. Table Banking.
4. Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) Initiatives.
Visiting and assisting the sick.
Assisting HIV/AIDS orphans and widows.
Visiting Orphaned and Vulnerable People (OVPs) such as the terminally ill and older people.
Strengths of Mama Milele SACCO
1. The SACCO Partners with relevant government and non-government bodies for enhance social-economic growth.
It actively participates in agricultural exhibitions held by the Sub-County offices.
2. The entity issues loans to its members.
In addition to its deposits and ploughed back income, as of the financial year 2025/26, Mama Milele had an external loan buffer limit of Ksh. 2,500,000 availed to its members.
The loans are offered on favourable terms, thus, making them ideal for starting small businesses, paying school fees, and for educational purposes. Thus, this contributes to reduced level of illiteracy among its members
4. Training members on financial literacy.
Financial literacy programme promotes sound management and utilization of the acquired funds (loans), thus, improving the rate of repayment (reducing defaulting rate).
Challenges Faced by Mama Milele SACCO
1. Inadequate fundings.
Nonetheless, this challenge was mitigated by establishing a deal to get an external buffer fund of up to Ksh. 2,500,000. This has helped to caution the challenge.
We hope to get more option of financial leverage to help caution the high demand for loans, especially among women in the future.
2. The SACCO is yet to be connected to vital entities such as women fund.
Even as it gains attention of some such as Uwezo Fund, Mama Milele Seeks to gain attention of many other like-minded partner to expand its partnership (assistance) portfolio to attain more tangible outcomes.
3. Low table banking kitty.
We do encourage members to increase their contributions to expand the kitty.
Similarly, we also encourage leaders and other national and international partners to assist in any way they could to help expand this important social-economic growth kitty.
