Quick answer
Safaricom Sacco rebranded to Qona Sacco in 2024. Full (Crown) membership needs a KSh 1,000 registration fee, KSh 40,000 share capital within 12 months and KSh 3,000 monthly deposits, plus a passport photo, ID and KRA PIN. Applicants must be 18 or older; chamas cannot join.
Updated 20 October 2026
Safaricom Sacco is now called Qona Sacco. The society, registered in 2001, rebranded from Safaricom Sacco Ltd to Qona DT Sacco Ltd in 2024, and it says contributions, products, fees and member agreements did not change with the new name. It is a Tier 1, deposit-taking Sacco regulated by the Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA), with more than 20,000 members and over KSh 15 billion in assets.
This guide sets out the current Safaricom Sacco (Qona Sacco) membership requirements, the three membership categories, what you pay to join and how to apply.
In this guide
Who Can Join Safaricom Sacco (Qona Sacco)
Qona’s membership form sets these qualifications. An applicant must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Not have been convicted of a criminal offence involving fraud or dishonesty.
- Fall within the field of membership approved in the Sacco’s membership policy.
The Sacco began as a savings society for Safaricom staff, but it now describes itself as welcoming all Kenyans and members in the diaspora who fall within its common bond, including people introduced by existing members. Members who leave their employer can keep saving and keep servicing their loans.
Chamas and investment groups cannot join. Qona says it is a primary cooperative and does not onboard chamas or investment groups. Older guides that list chama and SME accounts with KSh 2,000 registration fees describe the old Safaricom Sacco rules, not the current ones.
Membership Categories and Fees
Qona now offers three individual categories. They differ in share capital, monthly minimum and how much you can borrow.
| Category | Age | Registration fee | Share capital | Monthly minimum | Loan limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inuka | 18 to 23 years | KSh 500 | KSh 10,000 | KSh 1,000 | KSh 100,000 |
| Seed Q | No age limit | KSh 500 | KSh 20,000 | KSh 1,500 | KSh 500,000 |
| Crown | No age limit | KSh 1,000 | KSh 40,000 | KSh 3,000 | Up to KSh 100 million |
Crown is the standard full membership described on the application form and in the Sacco’s FAQs: a one-off KSh 1,000 entrance fee, at least 400 shares at KSh 100 each (KSh 40,000) and a monthly deposit of at least KSh 3,000. Qona says members can start in a lower category and move up as their income grows.
Paying the share capital
You do not need to pay the KSh 40,000 share capital at once. Crown members must reach the minimum within 12 months of joining. Qona’s FAQ puts the monthly share contribution at a minimum of KSh 3,400. Shares are non-refundable. When you leave, they can only be transferred or sold to another member. You may buy more shares, up to one fifth of the Sacco’s total shareholding.
Documents You Need
- A filled membership application form, or the online application.
- One recent coloured passport-size photo.
- A copy of your national ID or passport.
- A copy of your KRA PIN certificate.
The form also asks for your employer or business details, monthly income band, the M-Pesa number you want linked to QonaPay, who introduced you (with their member number if it was a referral), and one or more nominated next of kin with the share each should receive.
How to Join
- Pick a category on the Join Us page of the Qona Sacco website.
- Register online at joinus.qonasacco.com, or download the membership form, fill it in block letters and take it to the office.
- Attach your photo, ID copy and KRA PIN certificate.
- Choose how you will pay deposits and shares: employer check-off, bank standing order, FOSA standing order, cash at the counter or Lipa na M-Pesa. With check-off, the KSh 1,000 membership fee comes off your first payroll deduction.
- Wait for an SMS with your member number. Qona says it is sent within 48 hours.
Every new member automatically gets a FOSA (front office) account, which works like a bank account and needs a minimum balance of KSh 500.
Loans and Benefits
- Loan eligibility: save for at least 3 months for short-term loans and at least 6 months for long-term loans.
- Borrowing limit: total loans can be up to 5 times your savings, and mortgages up to 10 times.
- Interest: Qona advertises loans at 1% a month and mortgages from 0.67% a month. It also offers KMRC-backed mortgages at 8.5% for ready houses and 9.5% for construction.
- Security: loans above your savings must be fully guaranteed by active members, or secured with a title deed, sublease or logbook.
- Returns: rebates on deposits and dividends on shares are paid at the end of each financial year, subject to 5% withholding tax (persons with disabilities holding a tax exemption certificate are exempt).
- Referrals: members earn KSh 500 for each new member they bring in.
Use our Sacco loan calculators to estimate repayments before you apply, and see how dividends are worked out in our guide to Stima Sacco dividends.
Leaving the Sacco
To withdraw, give 60 days’ written notice. You must first clear any loans, and if you have guaranteed other members, they will need replacement guarantors before you are released. A member who leaves can rejoin later by paying the KSh 1,000 registration fee again.
Safaricom Sacco vs Safaricom Investment Co-operative
Do not confuse Qona Sacco with the Safaricom Investment Co-operative (SIC). SIC is an investment co-operative that does not give loans. Individual members pay a KSh 10,000 registration fee, buy at least 500 shares at KSh 52.50 (KSh 26,250, so KSh 36,250 in total) and contribute at least KSh 3,000 a month. If you want to save and borrow, Qona Sacco is the one to join. Compare it with other options in our guides to Ushuru Sacco membership and Kentours Sacco.
Qona Sacco Contacts
- Office: First Floor, GoodMan Tower, Westlands, Nairobi (Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm)
- Phone: 0111 222 226 or 0111 222 227
- Email: info@qonasacco.com
- Member portal: iConnect, plus the QonaPay app on Play Store and App Store
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to join Safaricom Sacco?
Safaricom Sacco is now Qona Sacco. Full (Crown) membership costs a KSh 1,000 registration fee, KSh 40,000 in share capital payable within 12 months and at least KSh 3,000 a month in deposits. The Inuka and Seed Q categories start at a KSh 500 fee.
Can anyone join Safaricom Sacco?
Anyone aged 18 or over within the Sacco’s field of membership can apply, including Kenyans in the diaspora. Chamas and investment groups cannot join.
Is Safaricom Sacco the same as Qona Sacco?
Yes. Safaricom Sacco Ltd rebranded to Qona DT Sacco Ltd in 2024. Fees, products and existing agreements stayed the same.
How long before I can borrow?
Save for at least 3 months for a short-term loan or 6 months for a long-term loan. You can borrow up to 5 times your savings.
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