Diaspora Saccos in Kenya 2026: SASRA Licensing Checks

Updated 2 November 2026

Diaspora saccos in Kenya are savings and credit co-operatives set up for Kenyans living abroad. Three Saccos with “Diaspora” in their names appear on SASRA’s 2026 list of regulated Saccos: Kenya-USA Diaspora Sacco, Grand Granite Diaspora Sacco and Stoke-UK Diaspora Sacco. All three are authorised as non-withdrawable deposit-taking (Non-WDT) Saccos, not as deposit-taking (FOSA) Saccos.

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That difference matters if you are sending money home to save or borrow. This guide explains what the licence type means, lists the regulated diaspora Saccos with their head offices, and shows how to check any Sacco before you join from abroad. Updated November 2026 from SASRA’s list for the financial year ending 31 December 2026, dated 3 February 2026.

Diaspora saccos in Kenya on the SASRA 2026 list

Many other Saccos also accept members who live abroad, including large deposit-taking Saccos. Being on the list is what matters, not the word “diaspora” in the name. You can search every name in our SASRA licensed Saccos list.

Deposit-taking vs non-withdrawable deposit Saccos

SASRA’s 2026 notice has two main schedules:

• Schedule I: 176 Saccos licensed to carry out deposit-taking business (FOSA-type savings accounts you can withdraw from) from 1 January to 31 December 2026, under the Sacco Societies (Deposit-Taking Sacco Business) Regulations, 2010.
• Schedule II: Saccos authorised to carry out specified non-deposit-taking business under the Sacco Societies (Non-Deposit-Taking Business) Regulations, 2020. The three diaspora Saccos are in this group.

The Sacco Societies Act defines non-withdrawable deposits as deposits from members that “are not available for withdrawal for the duration of the membership” and “may be used as collateral against borrowings”. In practice that means money you save in a Non-WDT Sacco is locked in while you are a member and mainly works as the base for loans. You get it back when you leave, according to the Sacco’s by-laws. If you need a savings account you can draw on, you need a Schedule I deposit-taking Sacco or a bank; see how to open a Kenyan bank account from abroad.

How to check a diaspora Sacco before you join

1. Find it on the current list. SASRA publishes a new list each year at sasra.go.ke under Regulated SACCOs. The 2026 list covers 1 January to 31 December 2026. Our step-by-step guide on how to check if a Sacco is licensed by SASRA walks through it.
2. Match the exact name and head office. Copycat names exist. Compare the registered name, P.O. box and physical address with the schedule.
3. Check the licence type. A Non-WDT Sacco is not authorised to run withdrawable savings accounts. If it offers one, ask why.
4. Check the restricted and revoked schedules. In 2026 SASRA placed five Saccos on conditionally restricted licences (Schedule III), which bars them from taking new deposits, and listed Saccos whose licences or authorisations were revoked (Schedules IV and V).
5. Ask to see the certificate. SASRA says every licensed or authorised Sacco must display its original certificate at its head office and a copy at every branch.
6. Pay only to the Sacco’s own account. Never pay into a personal M-Pesa or bank account of an “agent” or official.

For a one-stop check of Saccos, CBK-licensed loan apps and CMA firms, use our licence checker.

SASRA’s warning to the public

The 2026 notice states that anyone who transacts deposit-taking or non-deposit-taking Sacco business with a Sacco or any other entity that does not hold a valid SASRA licence or authorisation “shall be doing so at his/her own risk and peril”. It also bars regulated Saccos from placing or investing members’ funds in unregulated entities or in non-core business. For Kenyans abroad, that means a land-buying “investment group” calling itself a Sacco but missing from the list is outside SASRA’s protection.

Other ways Kenyans abroad save and invest at home

Diaspora saccos in Kenya are one option among several. Money market funds, Treasury bills and dollar funds are covered in investing in Kenya from abroad, and if a relative will handle your affairs, read our power of attorney guide for the diaspora. To keep transfer costs down, compare providers with the cheapest way to send money to Kenya.

Frequently asked questions

Which diaspora Saccos are licensed by SASRA?

SASRA’s 2026 list includes Kenya-USA Diaspora Sacco, Grand Granite Diaspora Sacco and Stoke-UK Diaspora Sacco, all as regulated non-withdrawable deposit-taking Saccos.

Can I withdraw my savings from a diaspora Sacco?

Non-withdrawable deposits are not available for withdrawal while you remain a member, under the Sacco Societies Act. They are refunded when you exit, according to the Sacco’s by-laws.

Can I join any Kenyan Sacco from abroad?

Membership rules are set by each Sacco’s by-laws. Many accept members abroad, so ask the Sacco directly and confirm it is on the current SASRA list.

How do I contact SASRA?

SASRA is at UAP Old Mutual Tower, 19th floor, Upper Hill Road, Nairobi. Phone +254 20 2935101, toll-free 0800 724 422, email info@sasra.go.ke.

Sources: SASRA, List of Licensed and Authorised Sacco Societies in Kenya for the financial year ending 31 December 2026 (dated 3 February 2026); Sacco Societies Act, section 2. Read 2 November 2026.