Take a SACCO or co-operative dispute to the Co-operative Tribunal
Judiciary Tribunals · sources read 2 Oct 2026
If you have a dispute with your SACCO or co-operative over money or membership, file a Statement of Claim with the Co-operative Tribunal on the Judiciary e-filing portal, with your supporting documents. Cases are meant to be decided within 180 days.
- Fee
- KSh 1,000Unliquidated claim (not a fixed sum of money), per prayer
- How long
- Up to 180 days from filing (often sooner)
- Where
- Online on the Judiciary e-filing portal (efiling.court.go.ke, Tribunals tab). Office: Re-Insurance Plaza, 11th Floor, Taifa Road, Nairobi, with regional offices at the court stations in Eldoret, Kakamega, Kisumu, Meru, Mombasa, Nakuru and Nyeri.
What you need
- A Statement of Claim setting out your case
- Documents that support your claim (for example statements, receipts, letters)
Steps
- Create an account on the Judiciary e-filing portal (efiling.court.go.ke) and file your Statement of Claim and documents under the Tribunals tab, choosing the Co-operative Tribunal.
- Stuck on the portal? Go to the nearest court station, where tribunal liaison officers can help, or call or email the tribunal (coptr@court.go.ke, 0798 500 066).
- Once served, the SACCO or other respondent has 15 days to respond. If it doesn't, the tribunal can enter judgment in your favour.
- If both sides agree, the tribunal can use mediation (ADR). Any agreement you reach is recorded as a binding order.
Watch out
- You don't need a lawyer. You can argue your claim yourself or use a representative, who may be an advocate.
- If you claim a fixed sum of money, the filing fee is worked out from the amount you claim, but it does not go above KSh 70,000. The portal shows the exact fee before you pay.
- Unhappy with the decision? You can appeal to the High Court (Civil Division), and that appeal is final.
Who can apply
- Members, past members, and people claiming through a member, past member or deceased member (such as a nominee or next of kin). A society, its committee or officers can also file.
- Disputes about a co-operative's business: between members, between a member and the society or its officials, or between two societies. This includes money a member says the society owes them.
Official sources (3)
- Tribunals Frequently Asked Questions (Co-operative Tribunal section) tribunals.judiciary.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Co-operative Tribunal service delivery commitments and fees tribunals.judiciary.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026
- Co-operative Tribunal (Tribunals website) tribunals.judiciary.go.ke · read 2 Oct 2026