Kenya SACCO News 2026: SASRA Crackdowns, New Licenses, and the "Credit-Only" Shift

The first quarter of 2026 has brought a defining moment for the cooperative movement in Kenya. While the sector remains a pillar of the economy contributing over 30% of national savings regulators are no longer playing soft. From license revocations to a fierce battle over "direct democracy" in voting, here is the essential news every SACCO member needs to know this February.

1. The 2026 Licensing Wave: 176 SACCOs Cleared

As of January 28, 2026, the Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA) has officially licensed 176 Deposit-Taking (DT) SACCOs to operate for the 2026 financial year.

• The Drop: This is a slight decrease from the 178 licensed in 2025.
  

• Why it Matters: SASRA now requires a rigorous 10-point checklist for renewal, including three years of audited accounts and proof of adequate core capital. For investors on Saccoshares, checking if a SACCO is on the 2026 list is the first step in due diligence.

2. Five SACCOs Placed on "Credit-Only" Restricted Status

In a major move to protect savers, SASRA has restricted five SACCOs to a credit-only status for 2026. This means these institutions are barred from taking any new deposits

          Affected SACCOs: Dumisha, Bi-High, Metropolitan National, Ol’Kaunsel, and Digital Media Non-WDT SACCO.

What this means for members:

• You can still repay and take loans from existing funds.

• You cannot add new savings or deposits.
  
  
• This is a "yellow card" from the regulator, signaling governance or liquidity concerns that require containment.
  
  
  3. The Merger Trend: Nufaika Joins Fortune SACCO
  
  Consolidation is the new theme for 2026. Nufaika SACCO (Kirinyaga) officially exited the sector through a voluntary merger with Fortune Regulated SACCO.
  
           The Insight: SASRA is actively pushing smaller SACCOs to merge to build "financial muscle." If you hold shares in a smaller society, 2026 might be the year your institution joins a larger one to survive the high cost of digital compliance
  
  
  

  4. Governance Wars: Tower SACCO Members Reject "Delegate System"

  A fierce battle is erupting over how SACCOs are run. The government recently issued a directive mandating that all SACCOs with over 5,000 members must use a Delegate System for voting.
             
             The Conflict: Members of Tower SACCO recently made headlines by unanimously rejecting this directive. They argue that a delegate system "disenfranchises ordinary savers" and makes it easier for boards to be "pocketed" by a small group of representatives.

            The PAA Context: "Can I vote in my SACCO AGM?" is a rising search query as members fight to keep the "one member, one vote" model.
  
  

  Top 5 SACCO Industry Trends for 2026

  Trend	Impact on Members
  Dividend Caution	Expect slightly lower dividends as SACCOs rebuild capital buffers after the 2025 KUSCCO scandal.
  Digital-First Apps	Leading SACCOs are shifting to AI-driven loan processing and voice-banking in local languages.
  NSE Listing Rumors	Discussions are intensifying about allowing SACCO shares to be traded on the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
  Stricter Audits	SASRA has set a hard deadline of March 15, 2026, for all audited financial statements.
  Cybersecurity	Multi-factor authentication is now a mandatory standard for all SACCO mobile apps.