Stima DT ranks #1 overall with the highest combined score: 10.5% dividends (tied highest in Kenya), KSh 66.5B assets (2nd largest), open membership (anyone can join), and 3.8★ app rating. Beats Mwalimu on accessibility (open vs teachers-only) while matching its 10.5% dividend. Outperforms Kenversity on asset base (KSh 66.5B vs KSh 4.1B) for institutional stability. Stima DT leads our rankings as the best overall SACCO in Kenya. It combines the highest dividend rate (10.5%) with competitive 12% loan rates, KSh 66.5 billion in assets (second largest in Kenya), and SASRA regulation for member protection. Open membership means anyone can join — no employer restriction. The MSTIMA app has 3.8★ from 191 Play Store reviews. Users report: M-Pesa float runs out on weekends (KSh 5k limit), app slows down Friday evenings, occasional logout issues after updates. Weekday transactions work well.
- Kenyan national ID
- Minimum age 18
- Initial share capital KSh 10,000
- Regular monthly savings
- FOSA account for banking services
- 10.5% annual dividend — among Kenya's highest
- 12% loan interest rate (reducing balance)
- KSh 66.5B in assets — second largest SACCO in Kenya
- SASRA licensed and regulated
- Open membership — anyone can join
Mwalimu is Kenya's largest SACCO at KSh 68.9B in assets — 4% larger than Stima DT. Matches Stima's 10.5% dividend rate. 52 years of operation (oldest in our comparison). Restricted to teachers/TSC employees only. If you qualify, this is the most stable choice. App rated 3.8★ from 104 reviews. Mwalimu is Kenya's largest SACCO by assets (KSh 68.9B) and matches Stima's 10.5% dividend rate. However, membership is restricted to teachers and TSC employees. If you're in the education sector, this is the strongest pick — massive asset base means financial stability and loan availability. 52 years of operation speaks to deep institutional trust. The MwalimuHELA app has 3.8★ from 104 Play Store reviews. Users report: slow and shows "system busy" errors, deposits take hours to reflect, M-Pesa float insufficient on weekends.
- Kenyan national ID
- TSC employment number (teachers only)
- Minimum age 18
- Initial share capital KSh 10,000
- Regular monthly savings via check-off
- 10.5% annual dividend — tied for highest in Kenya
- KSh 68.9B in assets — largest SACCO in Kenya
- SASRA licensed and regulated
- 52 years of operation — deep institutional trust
- Mobile app and online banking
Kenversity is the only SACCO with all 4 digital channels: App + Online + USSD *720# + M-Pesa paybill. This means you can transact on any phone — even a feature phone via USSD. 9% dividends, open membership, KSh 5,000 minimum share capital (lowest entry). App rated 4.0★. Best for digital-first users who need USSD fallback. Kenversity is the only SACCO in our comparison offering the complete digital quartet: mobile app, online banking, USSD *720#, and M-Pesa paybill integration. This means you can transact anywhere, anytime — even on a feature phone via USSD. SASRA licensed with open membership, 9% dividends, and KSh 5,000 minimum share capital make it the most accessible and digitally complete option. App has 4.0★ from 10 reviews (small sample).
- Kenyan national ID
- Minimum age 18
- Initial share capital KSh 5,000
- Regular monthly savings
- FOSA account for banking services
- Full digital suite: App + Online + USSD *720# + M-Pesa
- USSD *720# works on any phone — no smartphone needed
- SASRA licensed for member protection
- Open membership — anyone can join
- Low minimum share capital at KSh 5,000
Mhasibu offers the same 4-channel digital suite as Kenversity (App + Online + USSD *657# + M-Pesa) but with larger assets at KSh 11.2B. 9% dividends, 30 years of operation, open membership. App rated 3.9★ from 25 reviews. Best for: finance professionals wanting full digital access + mid-tier stability. Mhasibu offers the same full digital suite as Kenversity (App + Online + USSD *657# + M-Pesa) but with larger assets at KSh 11.2B and a strong reputation among finance professionals. 9% dividends, SASRA licensed, open membership, and 30 years of operation. Slightly higher minimum share capital at KSh 8,000. The M-Hasibu PRO app has 3.9★ from 25 reviews. Users report: constant login issues, M-Pesa float problems on weekends, customer support doesn't respond.
- Kenyan national ID
- Minimum age 18
- Initial share capital KSh 8,000
- Regular monthly savings
- FOSA account for banking services
- Full digital suite: App + Online + USSD *657# + M-Pesa
- 9% annual dividend on deposits
- KSh 11.2B in assets — strong financial base
- SASRA licensed and regulated
- Open membership — anyone can join
Unaitas is Kenya's largest open-bond SACCO with 400,000+ members and KSh 26.1B in assets. Offers 10% dividends (top tier), 12% loan rates, and truly open membership. App rated 4.0★ from 87 reviews. Smaller than Harambee but higher dividend (10% vs 9.5%). Best for: large-scale open membership with solid returns. Unaitas is Kenya's largest open-bond SACCO with 400,000+ members and KSh 26.1B in assets. It offers 10% dividends, 12% loan rates, and open membership — anyone can join regardless of employer. With App + Online + M-Pesa integration, it's a solid choice for savers who want scale and accessibility. The Unaitas Mocash app has 4.0★ from 87 reviews. Users report: occasional M-Pesa float issues on weekends.
- Kenyan national ID
- Minimum age 18
- Initial share capital KSh 8,000
- Regular monthly savings
- FOSA account for banking services
- 10% annual dividend — top tier
- KSh 26.1B assets — largest open-bond SACCO
- 400,000+ members — proven scale
- SASRA licensed and regulated
- Open membership — anyone can join
GDC Sacco offers all 4 digital channels (App + Online + USSD *645# + M-Pesa) with KSh 5,9B assets and 26 years of operation. 8.5% dividends (lower than top tier) but lowest entry at KSh 5,000 minimum share capital. App rated 3.3★. Best for: lowest entry + full digital suite. GDC Sacco offers the full digital quartet (App + Online + USSD *645# + M-Pesa) with SASRA licensing and open membership. While its 8.5% dividend is lower than the top tier, the comprehensive digital access and low KSh 5,000 minimum share capital make it one of the most accessible SACCOs. The GDC SACCO app has 3.3★ from 75 reviews. Users report: app is slow, M-Pesa float insufficient on weekends (can't withdraw above 5k).
- Kenyan national ID
- Minimum age 18
- Initial share capital KSh 5,000
- Regular monthly savings
- FOSA account for banking services
- Full digital suite: App + Online + USSD *645# + M-Pesa
- SASRA licensed for member protection
- Open membership — anyone can join
- Low KSh 5,000 minimum share capital
- 26 years of operation
Defence Sacco has Kenya's highest-rated SACCO app at 4.5★ (86 reviews) — 0.2 points above Harambee's 4.3★. Offers 10% dividends (top tier), KSh 9.2B assets, 42 years of operation. Also has full 4-channel digital access (App + Online + USSD + M-Pesa). Best for: maximum app reliability + strong dividends. Defence Sacco combines a strong 10% dividend with 42 years of operational history and KSh 9.2B in assets. SASRA licensed with App + Online banking and open membership. The low KSh 5,000 minimum share capital makes it accessible. The DESACCO app has the highest rating in our lineup at 4.5★ from 86 reviews. Users report: M-Pesa float insufficient on weekends (limited to 5k), but reliable on weekdays.
- Kenyan national ID
- Minimum age 18
- Initial share capital KSh 5,000
- Regular monthly savings
- FOSA account for banking services
- 10% annual dividend — top tier
- KSh 9.2B in assets — solid financial base
- SASRA licensed and regulated
- 42 years of operation — proven stability
- Open membership — anyone can join
Ushuru Sacco offers 9.5% dividends with 12% loan rates — strong combined value. KSh 7.7B assets, 29 years of operation, open membership. App rated 3.9★ from 14 reviews (small sample). Originally for KRA employees. Best for: KRA employees wanting strong dividend returns. Ushuru Sacco offers 9.5% dividends with 12% loan rates — a strong combined value proposition. SASRA licensed with App + Online banking and KSh 7.7B in assets. Originally for KRA employees but now open membership. The M-USHURU app has 3.9★ from 14 reviews (small sample).
- Kenyan national ID
- Minimum age 18
- Initial share capital KSh 5,000
- Regular monthly savings
- FOSA account for banking services
- 9.5% annual dividend — strong returns
- 12% loan interest rate
- SASRA licensed and regulated
- App and online banking platform
- Low KSh 5,000 minimum share capital
Harambee Sacco combines KSh 38.7B in assets (3rd largest) with 9.5% dividends and 45 years of operation. App rated 4.3★ from 148 reviews — second highest in our lineup. Originally for civil servants, now open membership. Larger than Unaitas (KSh 38.7B vs KSh 26.1B) with comparable dividends (9.5% vs 10%). Best for: large asset base + proven track record. Harambee Sacco combines 9.5% dividends with KSh 38.7B in assets and 45 years of operation — one of the largest and most established SACCOs in Kenya. SASRA licensed with App + Online banking and open membership. The Harambee M-Cash app has 4.3★ from 148 reviews — second highest in our lineup. Users report: M-Pesa float insufficient on weekends (limited to 5k on Saturdays), app works fine otherwise.
- Kenyan national ID
- Minimum age 18
- Initial share capital KSh 8,000
- Regular monthly savings
- FOSA account for banking services
- 9.5% annual dividend — strong returns
- KSh 38.7B in assets — top 5 by size
- 45 years of operation — deep institutional trust
- SASRA licensed and regulated
- Open membership — anyone can join
Tower Sacco brings KSh 28B in assets (4th largest) and 28 years of operation. 9% dividends, open membership. App has 3.3★ from 296 reviews — most reviewed but lowest rated in our lineup. Users report frequent crashes and M-Pesa float issues. Best for: traditional savers who don't rely on mobile access. Tower Sacco brings KSh 28B in assets and 28 years of proven operation — a large, stable institution. SASRA licensed with online banking and open membership. The Tower Sacco app has 3.3★ from 296 reviews — the most reviews in our lineup but lowest rated. Users report: app very slow, M-Pesa float always insufficient on weekends, can't access savings, app crashes frequently.
- Kenyan national ID
- Minimum age 18
- Initial share capital KSh 8,000
- Regular monthly savings
- FOSA account for banking services
- 9% annual dividend on deposits
- KSh 28B in assets — top-tier size
- SASRA licensed and regulated
- 28 years of operation
- Open membership — anyone can join
Afya Sacco has served Kenya's healthcare community for 38 years with KSh 22.8B in assets. 8.5% dividends (moderate), online banking, open membership. Nyanda SACCO app is new with no ratings yet. Best for: healthcare workers wanting sector-focused SACCO with moderate returns. Afya Sacco has served Kenya's healthcare community for 38 years with KSh 22.8B in assets. SASRA licensed with online banking. Originally for health professionals, now open membership. The 8.5% dividend is moderate but the deep institutional trust and healthcare-sector focus make it a reliable choice. The Nyanda SACCO app is new with no ratings yet.
- Kenyan national ID
- Minimum age 18
- Initial share capital KSh 8,000
- Regular monthly savings
- FOSA account for banking services
- KSh 22.8B in assets — large and stable
- 38 years serving healthcare professionals
- SASRA licensed and regulated
- Online banking platform
- Open membership
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Frequently Asked Questions
A SACCO dividend is your annual return on share capital (savings). The SACCO's net surplus is distributed to members as a percentage of their shares — typically 10-14.5% for top SACCOs. It's declared annually at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and credited directly to your account.
SASRA (SACCO Societies Regulatory Authority) is Kenya's official SACCO regulator. A SASRA-regulated SACCO is audited annually, required to follow sound governance and financial management standards, and member savings are protected under the SACCO Societies Act. Always prioritise SASRA-regulated SACCOs.
Reducing balance means interest is charged only on the outstanding loan balance each month — as you repay principal, the interest amount decreases. A 1%/month reducing balance loan is significantly cheaper than a 1%/month flat rate, which charges interest on the original principal for the entire term.
Yes. Several SACCOs offer dedicated group/chama accounts. The typical requirements are 5+ members, a group constitution, a list of authorized signatories, and a group registration certificate (if registered). Mwalimu SACCO is our top pick for chamas, with purpose-built group loan products and the lowest minimum share capital.