How to Register a SACCO in Kenya: Everything You Need to Know

Updated 18 October 2026

Registering a SACCO in Kenya is done through the State Department for Co-operatives, under the Co-operative Societies Act (Cap. 490) and the Co-operative Societies Rules. You need at least ten founding members who share a common bond, a set of by-laws, three proposed names and a registration fee that the Ministry’s own FAQ puts at KSh 3,500. If the SACCO will take deposits from members as savings that can be withdrawn, it also needs a licence from the SACCO Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA) before it starts that business. The same procedure applies to other co-operative societies, such as dairy, farmers’, transport and housing co-operatives, so this guide also works if you want to start a co-operative society that is not a SACCO.

In this guide

1. SACCO, co-operative or chama: which one do you need?
2. Basic requirements
3. Step-by-step registration
4. If your application is refused
5. When you also need SASRA
6. After registration: running it properly
7. Frequently asked questions

SACCO, co-operative or chama: which one do you need?

A SACCO (savings and credit co-operative) is a co-operative society whose main business is pooling members’ savings and lending to members. A co-operative society more broadly is any member-owned business registered under Cap. 490, for example farmers who market milk or coffee together. A chama or investment group is usually registered as a self-help group with the State Department for Social Protection, or as a company or partnership, and is not regulated as a co-operative. If your group only wants to save and invest together informally, a chama may be simpler. If you want a legal entity that can own property, sign contracts in its own name, run a check-off with an employer and grow to thousands of members, register a co-operative.

Basic requirements

• At least ten members. A primary co-operative society needs a minimum of ten persons who qualify for membership.
• A common bond. Members must share something that defines who can join, such as the same employer, profession, area, church, market or farming activity. Your by-laws must state it.
• An economic purpose. The Commissioner registers a society only if it appears viable, which is why an economic appraisal is part of the application.
• Interim officials. Members elect an interim chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary and treasurer to sign the forms and run things until the first general meeting.

Step-by-step registration

Step 1: Visit the county co-operative office

Start at the co-operative office in the county or sub-county where the SACCO will operate. Since devolution, county co-operative officers receive applications and forward them to the Commissioner for Co-operative Development, who keeps the national register of societies. The officer will usually hold a pre-co-operative education meeting with your members to explain their rights, duties and how a SACCO is governed.

Step 2: Hold the founding meeting

Hold a meeting of the proposed members, agree on the SACCO’s purpose and common bond, elect interim officials and agree on the share and deposit contributions. Keep minutes of the meeting and a signed list of members who attended, because both form part of your application.

Step 3: Submit three proposed names

Give the co-operative office three proposed names in order of preference for a search and reservation by the Commissioner. Avoid names that are too close to an existing SACCO; our list of SASRA licensed SACCOs is a quick way to see which names are already in use among the larger ones.

Step 4: Prepare the by-laws

The by-laws are the SACCO’s constitution. The Co-operative Societies Rules require them to cover, among other things, the society’s name, registered office and postal address, area of operation and common bond, objects, how funds may be used, membership qualifications, admission, withdrawal and expulsion, members’ rights and liabilities, how shares are held and transferred, general meetings, the powers of the committee, how loans are given, and how disputes are settled. Model by-laws are available from the State Department for Co-operatives, and the county officer will help you adapt them.

Step 5: Fill in and submit the forms

The Sacco Standards Operations Manual published by the State Department for Co-operatives lists the documents usually submitted:

• the proposed by-laws in four copies;
• the application for registration form, signed by at least ten members, in four copies;
• the supplementary information form, filled in by the interim officials, in four copies;
• the economic appraisal form in four copies;
• minutes of the founding meeting with the list of members who attended; and
• for a workplace SACCO, a letter from the employer agreeing to deduct members’ contributions from salary by check-off.

Step 6: Pay the fees

The Co-operative Societies Rules set a non-refundable application fee of KSh 500 and a fee of KSh 3,000 on registration, which is why the Ministry’s FAQ lists the cost of registering a new co-operative as KSh 3,500. The same FAQ gives the timeline as within two weeks once the supporting documents are complete. Older county guidance quotes slightly different totals, so confirm the current amount and payment method with your county office.

Step 7: Receive your certificate

Once the society is registered, the Commissioner sends a certificate of registration, or of provisional registration, together with a certified copy of your registered by-laws. Use the certificate to open the SACCO’s bank account, apply for a KRA PIN in the society’s name and, where needed, a county single business permit.

If your application is refused

If the Commissioner refuses to register the society or its by-laws, the Rules require written reasons within 60 days. You may appeal to the Cabinet Secretary in charge of co-operatives on paying a filing fee of KSh 1,000.

When you also need SASRA

Registration lets your SACCO exist. A SACCO that runs a withdrawable deposit-taking business, and certain larger non-withdrawable deposit-taking SACCOs, must also be authorised by SASRA under the Sacco Societies Act. SASRA’s FAQ says an application for authorisation must come with a processing fee of KSh 3,000, paid into its account at Co-operative Bank with the SACCO’s name and registration number on the slip. Members of any SACCO can check its status with our guide on how to check if a SACCO is licensed by SASRA.

After registration: running it properly

• Hold the first general meeting to elect a substantive board and supervisory committee.
• Keep proper books and have them audited every year, because audited accounts are needed to declare dividends and interest on deposits.
• Write clear loan and credit policies before lending, and never lend more than members’ savings can support.
• File amendments to the by-laws with the Commissioner before you act on them.

Frequently asked questions

How many members do I need to register a SACCO in Kenya?

At least ten people who share a common bond and qualify for membership under your proposed by-laws.

How much does it cost to register a SACCO?

The Ministry’s FAQ lists KSh 3,500, which matches the KSh 500 application fee and KSh 3,000 registration fee in the Co-operative Societies Rules. SASRA authorisation, if needed, is a separate KSh 3,000 processing fee.

Where do I register a co-operative society?

Apply through the county co-operative office where the society will operate. The office forwards your documents to the Commissioner for Co-operative Development, who registers the society.

How long does registration take?

The Ministry says within two weeks once all supporting documents are complete. Missing minutes, signatures or by-law copies are the usual cause of delay.