The Commissioner for Cooperatives Development at the State Department of Cooperatives, Mr. David Obonyo, has engaged with the recently appointed Committee of Experts tasked with a comprehensive review of the SACCO Societies Act, 2008. The meeting, marked a key step in the government’s broader efforts to modernize Kenya’s cooperative financial sector and align it with global standards.
The committee is chaired by Ms. Marlene Shiels, Chief Executive Officer of Capital Credit Union in Scotland, and comprises a distinguished group of legal, financial, and cooperative sector professionals drawn from both local and international institutions. The team was officially inaugurated last month and has been given a three-month mandate to evaluate and recommend sweeping reforms to the current SACCO legislative and institutional framework.
Speaking during the engagement, Commissioner Obonyo underscored the government’s commitment to creating a resilient, efficient, and globally competitive SACCO environment. He emphasized the importance of legislative reforms in driving sustainable growth, enhancing governance, and safeguarding members’ deposits in a rapidly evolving financial ecosystem.
Scope and Responsibilities of the Committee
The Committee’s specific responsibilities include:
Evaluating the relevance and effectiveness of the current SACCO Societies Act.
Aligning the Act with government policy directives, including the establishment of a Central Liquidity Facility, a SACCO Deposit Guarantee Fund, and a shared services legal and administrative framework.
Reviewing SACCO regulations to ensure they support effective implementation and compliance.
Analyzing the operational landscape of SACCOs under the existing regulatory environment.
Benchmarking against global SACCO models to develop locally tailored, globally informed recommendations.
Assessing current administrative structures with a focus on efficiency, accountability, and performance.
Committee Membership and Support Team
In addition to Ms. Marlene Shiels as Chairperson, the Committee of Experts includes:
Adv. Maurice Smith – Member of the African American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC) and a member of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar.
Adv. Gina Carter – CEO of Husch Blackwell (USA) and Board Member of Redwood Credit Union.
Counsel Odhiambo Collins Harrison – Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, specializing in Constitutional and Administrative Law.
Dr. Gamaliel Hassan – CEO of Stima DT SACCO.
The Committee will be supported by technical advisors Mr. Morris Mworia Muriungi and Mr. John B. Ongatta, both seasoned professionals in cooperative policy and law.
Over the coming weeks, the Committee is expected to conduct a series of stakeholder engagements, sectoral consultations, and comparative studies. Their final recommendations—expected by the end of their three-month term—will guide future legislative and institutional reforms aimed at enhancing the stability, transparency, and competitiveness of Kenya’s SACCO sector.
The government views this reform initiative as a cornerstone of its financial inclusion agenda, with the ultimate goal of strengthening SACCOs as vital engines of grassroots economic empowerment.