K-Unity Sacco Emerges as Major Beneficiary as CS Kinyanjui Expands Funding Under World Bank-Supported SAFER Programme
He noted that the SACCO’s capacity for responsibly managing funds and broadening its outreach aligns seamlessly with the objectives of the SAFER programme.
K-Unity Sacco as one of the most solid anchors of the SAFER program. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
K-Unity Sacco is among the leading beneficiaries of newly expanded financing under the World Bank-backed Strengthening Agricultural Finance and Enterprise Resilience Project; a move the government says will accelerate grassroots economic development and bolster Kenya’s cooperative sector.
The increased support was announced by Investment, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui as he highlighted the pivotal role played by Sacco in economically empowering farmers, small traders, and MSMEs through its reasonably priced and accessible financial services. He called for the strengthening of cooperative-based credit systems to ensure sustained economic transformation, especially within rural and peri-urban settings.
Kinyanjui made the remarks during the disbursement of Ksh 500 million to Githunguri Dairy Cooperative Society through KDC, where he hailed K-Unity Sacco as one of the most solid anchors of the SAFER program. The programme aims to expand credit to agricultural producers, enhance resilience among small enterprises and stimulate productivity across value chains.
According to the CS, SAFER has so far disbursed Ksh 3.2 billion to 11 Saccos across 38 counties. This grant has allowed the cooperatives to disburse more credit to farmers, processors, and small-scale entrepreneurs, most of whom find it difficult to access credit from conventional banking facilities. K-Unity Sacco has continued to emerge as one of the flagship beneficiaries in this program, through its community-centered model and long-standing contribution toward financial inclusion.
Other institutions that will be supported under the programme include Boresha Sacco, Amica Sacco, Fortune Sacco, Skyline Sacco, Yetu Sacco, Solution Sacco, Apstar Sacco, Trans-Elite Sacco, the Githunguri Dairy Cooperative Society, and the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC). Collectively, this network is an important driver for agricultural financing at the grassroots.
Kinyanjui praised K-Unity Sacco for its solid governance structures, stable financial growth, and increasing member base—attributes that he said make it an effective partner in moving Kenya’s socioeconomic agenda forward. He noted that the SACCO’s capacity for responsibly managing funds and broadening its outreach aligns seamlessly with the objectives of the SAFER programme.
From a modest beginning, K-Unity Sacco has grown to become one of the major financial pillars in Kiambu, Nairobi, Nakuru, Narok, and Nyandarua counties, with an asset base now surpassing Ksh 6 billion. The cooperative serves more than 100,000 members with credit, savings products, and investment opportunities that support household needs and small business expansion.
“The broad coverage of the SAFER programme confirms the government’s commitment to strengthening SACCOs like K-Unity, which are vital in bringing financial solutions to communities and small enterprises across Kenya,” said Kinyanjui.
The funding announcement drew participation from high-ranking officials including Principal Secretary for Investment Abubakar Hassan, KDC Director General Norah Ratemo, and leaders representing cooperative societies under the SAFER framework. It said the continued collaboration between national programs funded by the World Bank, and local cooperatives would serve as a driver of inclusive growth, improved rural resilience, and long-term economic stability.
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