Vihiga: Hazina Sacco has launched a Sh600,000 water project at Kidinye Dispensary in Vihiga County, alongside a countywide financial literacy programme aimed at empowering members and enhancing financial inclusion. The two-day outreach initiative included the commissioning of the Corporate Social Responsibility project at Chango Village and a members' education forum at Praise Centre in Vihiga Sub-County.
According to Kenya News Agency, county health officials stated that the water project was initiated to address a persistent water shortage that had hindered the functionality of the dispensary's maternity wing. Mama Agnes Lugali, a founder of the dispensary, shared that the residents had faced decades of water scarcity, which forced them to fetch water from far-off sources. The new piped water system has provided relief and improved healthcare services for the community.
Vihiga County Executive Committee Member for Health, Dr. Nicholas Kitungulu, detailed that Hazina Sacco financed the construction of a comprehensive water system, including a 7,500-litre elevated storage tank, a ground reservoir, and an electric water pumping system. Dr. Kitungulu mentioned that the county government would operationalise the previously idle maternity wing immediately, expecting it to serve over 700 patients daily from Chango Village and surrounding areas. He praised Hazina Sacco for supporting the county government's efforts to enhance healthcare access and acknowledged Sabatia MCA Pauline Amwata Engesia for her advocacy.
During the members' education forum, Hazina Sacco National Chairman Evans Kibagendi explained that Vihiga County was strategically chosen to launch the Sacco's biennial financial education programme. Kibagendi highlighted the initiative's goal to boost financial literacy, inform members about available credit products, and outline the Sacco's expansion plans. He noted that Vihiga has nearly 1,000 members out of the Sacco's nationwide membership of over 38,000, with the institution maintaining strong liquidity and steady asset growth. Kibagendi encouraged members to use loan facilities wisely to create wealth and invest in sustainable projects.
Hazina Sacco CEO, CPA Dickson Okungu, announced the expansion of the common bond by allowing all Kenyans to join the Sacco, extending beyond its traditional civil service clientele. Okungu noted that private sector employees, business owners, youth entrepreneurs, retirees, and Kenyans abroad are now eligible for membership. He outlined the membership requirements, including a Sh1,000 registration fee, a minimum monthly deposit of Sh1,000, and a Sh200 monthly contribution to the benevolent fund.
Okungu detailed that salaried members become loan-eligible after one month of consistent contributions, while non-salaried business members qualify after a four-month assessment. Members can access loans up to six times their accumulated deposits via digitised mobile banking platforms, which offer instant loan applications, approvals, and disbursements. He emphasized that the Sacco's Portfolio at Risk is only two percent, below the industry's five percent benchmark, and stressed the importance of financial counselling and loan restructuring for members facing repayment challenges.
Sabatia delegate Harrison Madegwa, a member since 2013, commended the Sacco for delivering attractive returns, citing a 12.8 percent return on deposits last year. Madegwa urged residents, small-scale traders, and youth groups in Vihiga County to join the Sacco, noting its 12 percent reducing-balance interest rate as a more affordable credit option than commercial banks.
The Sacco announced that after the Vihiga outreach, the nationwide education and recruitment campaign will continue in Kakamega, Lamu, and other selected counties to promote financial inclusion and economic empowerment across the nation.