A New Era of Inclusion: SACCO Launch Transforms Lives of Kenya’s Security and Service Workers

A New Era of Inclusion: SACCO Launch Transforms Lives of Kenya’s Security and Service Workers

The County Diary News 

By Churchill Cyril Simiyu

Nairobi,April 29, 2025 – Ulinzi Sports Ground, A new chapter in Kenya’s financial inclusion efforts unfolded at the Ulinzi Sports Ground with the official launch of the National Service and Walinzi SACCO. This significant milestone targets frontline workers—particularly private security personnel, domestic workers, and other service providers—who have long operated outside the formal financial system.

The event, led by the Ministry of Co-operatives and MSME Development in collaboration with key stakeholders, marked a major step in empowering these often-overlooked workers through structured savings, access to affordable credit, and financial education.

The SACCO aims to address decades of financial exclusion faced by frontline workers who, despite their essential contributions to public safety and national development, remain unbanked and under-resourced. The initiative provides members with tools for asset building, responsible borrowing, and long-term financial planning, offering a sustainable pathway to economic security.

The Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and MSMEs, Hon. Wycliffe Oparanya, emphasized the SACCO’s role in bridging the gap between national financial policy and grassroots implementation. He underscored the potential of the SACCO to unlock economic opportunities for underserved sectors of the workforce and announced the appointment of a commissioner from his ministry, as well as Mr. George Mutiso, Chief Officer for Cooperatives in Nairobi County. These appointments are intended to provide strategic and technical support to SACCO leaders and to professionalize cooperative operations across the country.

Mr. Isaac Andabwa, Chairman of the National Service and Walinzi SACCO, reaffirmed the cooperative’s commitment to promoting financial stability, discipline, and inclusive growth. He highlighted the SACCO’s potential to become one of the country’s leading financial institutions by focusing on unity, good governance, and strategic investment.

CEO James Ngari stressed that the SACCO is more than just a financial institution—it is a symbol of renewed hope and empowerment for Kenya’s service workers. He called for collective responsibility among members to harness the SACCO’s full potential and use it as a tool to break systemic barriers and build stronger communities.

The SACCO’s financial offerings include salary advances, development loans, savings plans, and credit facilities tailored to the needs of frontline workers. For corporate partners, especially within the private security industry, additional services like payroll advances, asset financing, and invoice support are expected to improve operational stability and employee welfare.

A cornerstone of the SACCO’s mission is the provision of financial literacy programs. These programs will be rolled out in partnership with county governments and cooperative stakeholders to ensure that members are equipped with the knowledge necessary to manage their finances effectively. The focus will be on saving, investing, and borrowing responsibly to promote sustainable personal and household financial health.

The government’s support for the SACCO aligns with broader efforts to modernize Kenya’s cooperative movement and expand financial inclusion across all sectors of the economy. The launch serves as a model for how targeted interventions, supported by strong leadership and strategic planning, can transform lives and communities.

As the day concluded, the mood among attendees was one of optimism and resolve. The launch of the National Service and Walinzi SACCO marked not just the beginning of a new financial institution, but the rise of a movement dedicated to restoring dignity, strengthening economic resilience, and building a more inclusive future for Kenya’s frontline workers.

ENDS….

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