By Linda Karimi
Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (KUSCCO) in partnership with Aqua for All has launched the ‘Maji Nyumbani’ program aimed at providing affordable finance to the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector through SACCOs. The program targets SACCOs serving low-income and vulnerable persons across the country with financing being channeled to households and community-based micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The program will pilot financing in ten deposit-taking SACCOs from Mombasa, Eldoret, Siaya, Baringo, Embu, Kakamega, Nyeri, Meru, Kilifi, and Nakuru Counties. It will also offer technical assistance to develop WASH loan products that respond to the needs of SACCO members and communities. The pilot phase is expected to take 15 months and to disburse 2,250 loans. Expected target results include reaching 12,500 people comprising of 8,250 women and 4,250 men and sustaining 1,250 jobs.
According to George Ototo, Group Managing Director of KUSCCO, the SACCO sector has a potential of between Sh84.9 billion to Sh174 billion to lend towards the WASH sector, but the SACCOs have faced challenges towards achieving this due to lack of institutional capacity to understand WASH lending, perceived high risk of the WASH sector, lack of awareness of the market size opportunity for SACCOs and lack of member awareness of WASH loan products.
“Through the Maji Nyumbani program, we intend to unbundle or separate the WASH component from the existing loan products. This has the potential to catalyse access to water by availing more financing to SACCO members and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). We expect 25 MSMEs to be served per SACCO translating to 250 MSMEs for the ten SACCOs,” said Mr. Ototo.
Marlies Batterink, Aqua for All Regional Manager for East Africa, said that the partnership with KUSCCO will allow prioritizing and scaling WASH loans, creating a significant impact by targeting both households and MSMEs.
The partnership has the potential to reach all corners of the country through the extensive SACCO membership base. Increasing access to loans through KUSCCO aligns with their goal to accelerate access to WASH for underserved, remote communities through mobilizing funds for WASH.
Aqua for All is an international foundation operating primarily in Africa and Asia, while KUSCCO is a Union for all SACCOs in Kenya, providing advocacy, advice, and protection against adverse legislation and restrictions. The Union promotes the organization and development of viable SACCOs.
