During this year’s International Day of Cooperatives, held under Kenya’s Ushirika Day celebrations, NWDT Sacco Society—the employer-based SACCO of Co‑operative Bank of Kenya—was recognized as the leading Tier‑2 non-withdrawable deposit-taking SACCO (with assets between KSh 5 billion and KSh 10 billion).
The award, presented amid the United Nations’ International Year of Cooperatives 2025 theme, honored NWDT for its outstanding performance across metrics including financial stability, savings growth, loan portfolio health, governance standards, and digital innovation .
Dr. Gideon Muriuki, Group CEO of Co‑operative Bank, welcomed the recognition, affirming that the bank embodies the true spirit of the cooperative model. “Our structure is more than shareholder arrangement—it’s a commitment to collective ownership and mutual benefit,” he stated .
As East Africa’s largest cooperative-owned bank, Co‑op Bank boasts KSh 774.1 billion in assets and serves over 9 million clients through a broad network of 211 branches and 15,000 agents . In 2024, its MCo‑op Cash mobile platform disbursed over KSh 14 billion to MSMEs, reinforcing its mandate of expanding financial inclusion .
The recognition also coincides with legislative momentum—Kenya’s Cooperatives Bill No. 7 of 2024, now under parliamentary review, aims to enhance governance and transparency across the sector’s 30,000-plus cooperatives.
Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, speaking during the celebrations, underscored cooperatives’ vital role in bolstering Kenya’s economic resilience. “These institutions—from agriculture and finance to housing and health—drive Vision 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals by lifting millions out of poverty,” he emphasized.
Through NWDT’s achievement, Co‑op Bank reaffirms its cooperative legacy while showcasing operational excellence and further entrenching its role in Kenya’s socio-economic landscape.
