Register a SACCO or co-operative society
State Department for Co-operatives · sources read 1 Oct 2026
Get at least 10 members, do a name search (KSh 200), then apply to the Commissioner for Co-operative Development with 4 copies of your by-laws and pay KSh 3,500. Registration takes about 2 weeks.
- Fee
- KSh 200Co-operative name searchKSh 3,500Registration of a new co-operative
- How long
- About 2 weeks
- Where
- Commissioner for Co-operative Development, State Department for Co-operatives (head office: NSSF Building, 24th Floor, Nairobi)
What you need
- Application in the prescribed form, signed by at least 10 people who qualify as members
- 4 copies of the proposed by-laws, in English
- Economic appraisal for the proposed society (form on ushirika.go.ke)
- Supplementary information form for registration (form on ushirika.go.ke)
Steps
- Ask the State Department for Co-operatives for a name search. It costs KSh 200 and takes about 2 days.
- Draft your by-laws. The ministry publishes model by-laws for SACCOs and other co-operatives on ushirika.go.ke (Downloads).
- Send the signed application, 4 copies of the by-laws and any other information asked for to the Commissioner for Co-operative Development.
- Pay the KSh 3,500 registration fee. If the Commissioner is satisfied, the society and its by-laws are registered.
Watch out
- Registration isn't the end for a deposit-taking SACCO (one with a FOSA). It also needs a licence from SASRA before taking deposits.
- If registration is refused, you can appeal to the Cabinet Secretary within 30 days of being told.
Who can apply
- A SACCO or other primary co-operative needs at least 10 people who qualify to be members.
- A co-operative union needs at least 2 registered societies as members.
Official sources (7)
- FAQs ushirika.go.ke · read 1 Oct 2026
- Downloads ushirika.go.ke · read 1 Oct 2026
- Economic appraisal for a proposed co-operative society (SACCO) ushirika.go.ke · read 1 Oct 2026
- Supplementary information in respect of application for registration of a co-operative society ushirika.go.ke · read 1 Oct 2026
- Contact Us ushirika.go.ke · read 1 Oct 2026
- Co-operative Societies Act (Cap. 490B), No. 12 of 1997 new.kenyalaw.org · read 1 Oct 2026
- Licensing & Authorization sasra.go.ke · read 1 Oct 2026