Kajiado North youth have been urged to join savings and credit cooperative societies (Saccos) to cultivate a culture of saving and access affordable loans, according to Kasaine Ole Senkok, a monitoring and evaluation officer with the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP). Speaking at a sensitization seminar in Ngong, Senkok highlighted that 80% of Kajiado’s population falls within the youth bracket of 40 years and younger, yet they remain underrepresented in Saccos. This gap, he argued, leaves many vulnerable to predatory lending practices, including high-interest digital loans and harsh debt-recovery tactics by informal lenders. Senkok emphasized that Saccos offer regulated, locally accessible credit options, urging young people to prioritize financial stability over short-term borrowing from unregulated sources.
Ngong Multifarmers SACCO Chairperson Anne Njoroge acknowledged the challenge, pledging to launch an aggressive membership drive to reactivate dormant members and recruit 1,000 new members by December. She stressed the importance of saving as a pathway to financial growth, stating, “Let us not eat everything. Let us save. It is in saving that we are going to grow.” SACCO member Mary Karanja, who has repaid two loans from the cooperative, called for sustained public education to clarify misconceptions about Saccos. She noted that some members abandoned the cooperative after misunderstanding an initial grant from the World Bank as free money, a confusion that has hindered participation. Senkok reiterated the need for youth to view government-supported programs as tools for building self-reliance rather than expecting handouts, stating, “Our youth need to know there is no such thing as free money.”
The Ngong Multifarmers SACCO, one of 25 Saccos in Kajiado County, provides loans at a 1% monthly interest rate for agricultural value chains and small businesses, enabling members to finance ventures like vegetable resale. The NAVCDP, a partnership between the Kenyan government and the World Bank, supports these cooperatives to transition smallholder farmers from subsistence to commercial agriculture. Senkok underscored that strengthening Saccos and increasing youth engagement would expand financial inclusion and create opportunities for young people to invest in agriculture and enterprises. He encouraged the youth to combine disciplined saving habits with participation in financial programs to build sustainable livelihoods.
The initiative aligns with broader efforts to address financial exclusion in rural Kenya, where informal lending often traps borrowers in cycles of debt. By promoting Saccos, officials aim to empower communities with regulated financial tools while fostering economic resilience. The success of these efforts hinges on overcoming misconceptions, improving outreach, and ensuring that youth see cooperatives as viable alternatives to exploitative credit sources.