Is Your SACCO on the 2026 Licensed List? Why 5 Societies Were Just Restricted by SASRA

As of February 3, 2026, SASRA released the definitive register of regulated Saccos for the 2026 financial year. For investors on Saccoshares, this list is the ultimate "safety manual." If your Sacco isn't on it, or if it has been placed on "restricted status," your strategy for buying or selling shares must change immediately.

1. The "Safety List": 176 Saccos Cleared for 2026

SASRA has confirmed 176 Deposit-Taking (DT) Saccos are fully licensed to operate from January 1 to December 31, 2026. These institutions have met the rigorous "10-point checklist," including:

• Capital Adequacy: Maintaining enough core capital to absorb financial shocks.

• Audit Compliance: Submitting three years of clean, audited financial statements.

• Fit-and-Proper Tests: Ensuring the board of directors and senior management have no history of financial mismanagement.

2. The "Yellow Card": 5 Saccos Put on Restricted Credit-Only Status

The biggest news of February 2026 is the restriction of five Saccos. These societies are barred from taking any new deposits but are allowed to continue lending from existing funds under heavy SASRA supervision.

The Restricted List for 2026:

1. Metropolitan National Sacco

2. Bi-High Sacco

3. Dumisha Sacco

4. Ol’Kaunsel Non-WDT Sacco

5. Digital Media Non-WDT Sacco

What "Credit-Only" Means for You:

• For Buyers: Do not purchase new shares or increase deposits in these Saccos until they regain full licensing.

• For Sellers: It may be more difficult to find buyers on the secondary market for these shares. Transparency is key—ensure any buyer on Saccoshares is aware of the current restricted status.

• For Existing Members: You can still repay your loans, but you cannot add new savings.

3. Notable Exits: Mergers and Revocations

Two institutions have officially left the regulated perimeter in 2026:

• Nufaika Sacco (Kirinyaga): Exited through a voluntary merger with another regulated Sacco. Their license lapsed on December 31, 2025.

• PESA Sacco (Nairobi): Their authorization was revoked after failing to meet member obligations following the closure of their sponsoring employer.

4. Why These Restrictions Happen (The "Red Flags")

SASRA's move to restrict these five Saccos wasn't arbitrary. The primary "Red Flags" in 2026 include:

• Liquidity Strain: An inability to process member withdrawal requests on time.

• High NPLs: Non-performing loans exceeding the 5% regulatory limit.

• Governance Failure: Conflicts of interest or "cooked books" uncovered during forensic audits.
  
  Summary Table: 2026 Sacco Regulatory Snapshot
  

  Status	Number of Saccos	Member Action
  Fully Licensed	176	Safe to buy shares and save.
  Restricted (Credit-Only)	5	Stop new deposits; monitor liquidity.
  Voluntary Merger	1	Shares transferred to the new entity.
  Revoked/Exited	1	Seek guidance from SASRA on refunds.