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Ukulima Sacco membership and benefits (Kenya 2026): how to join, fees, share capital

How to join Ukulima Sacco, a SASRA-licensed Deposit-Taking SACCO serving the agriculture (Ministry of Agriculture and agri-parastatals). Eligibility, entry fee, minimum share capital, monthly contributions, member benefits and what the SACCO Societies Act 2008 guarantees you as a member. Verified 26 August 2026.

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by Reviewed by Michael Mwangi 9 min read Updated 26 August 2026Verified 26 Aug 2026

Who Ukulima Sacco is for

Apstar, formerly Ukulima, Sacco is a SASRA-licensed deposit-taking SACCO serving agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture and agri-parastatals. Total assets were KSh 16.76bn at 31 December 2025, up from KSh 15.68bn, which places it 15th of 179 by asset base. That figure is from Appendix III of SASRA's SACCO Supervision Annual Report 2025. Its licence is confirmed on the SASRA register of licensed deposit-taking SACCOs, accessed 26 August 2026. See the full ranking of all 179.

Common bond and eligibility. Founded for Ministry of Agriculture and related parastatal staff. Common bond has expanded to accept the general public.

What membership actually gets you

  • Ownership. Every member is a part-owner. You vote at the AGM (one member one vote, regardless of share size) and can stand for the supervisory or credit committee.
  • Dividends on shares. Declared annually at the AGM. Top SACCOs pay in the low-double-digit range historically; specific declared rates for Ukulima Sacco are covered in the dividends guide.
  • Interest on deposits (BOSA and FOSA savings). Interest is credited on qualifying savings balances at the end of the year.
  • Loan multiplier. Kenyan SACCOs typically lend up to 3x to 5x of your qualifying savings. Detail in the loans guide.
  • FOSA (Front Office) services. As a DT-SACCO, Ukulima Sacco operates a Front Office. This means a FOSA account you can deposit and withdraw from, and in most cases an ATM card, mobile menu and M-PESA paybill for contributions.
  • Deposit Guarantee Fund cover. Deposits are covered up to the ceiling set by the Deposit Guarantee Fund Board under section 55 of the SACCO Societies Act 2008. Confirm the current ceiling on sasra.go.ke.

How to join Ukulima Sacco, step by step

  1. Confirm you fall within the common bond. Founded for Ministry of Agriculture and related parastatal staff. Common bond has expanded to accept the general public.
  2. Collect the paperwork. National ID, KRA PIN, two passport photos, and a recent payslip (for salaried applicants) or business registration (for self-employed).
  3. Fill in the application form. Get it from a Ukulima Sacco branch or the member portal on www.ukulimasacco.co.ke.
  4. Pay the entry fee. A one-off joining fee, typically KES 1,000 to KES 5,000 for Kenyan DT-SACCOs. Confirm the current figure.
  5. Pay the minimum share capital. Kenyan SACCOs commonly require KES 5,000 to KES 30,000 in share capital. Share capital is different from deposits, it is your ownership stake and is not withdrawable in the same way.
  6. Set up a monthly contribution. Payroll check-off (if you are on a partner employer's payroll), standing order from a bank account, or M-PESA paybill (953400).
  7. Get your member number. Save it. This is the account number you use for every M-PESA paybill contribution.
  8. Serve the qualifying savings period. Typically six months of consistent contributions before you can access most loan products.

How to contribute via M-PESA

  1. Go to M-PESA › Lipa na M-PESA › Pay Bill.
  2. Business number: 953400.
  3. Account number: your Ukulima Sacco member number.
  4. Enter amount and confirm with PIN.
  5. Save the M-PESA confirmation, useful at AGM time when reconciling contributions and dividend calculations.

Your rights as a member

The SACCO Societies Act 2008 and the SACCO Societies (Deposit Taking) Regulations 2010 spell out the core member protections:

  • Right to attend and vote at the AGM. One member, one vote, regardless of share size.
  • Right to the annual accounts. Audited financials should be circulated ahead of the AGM.
  • Right to a copy of the by-laws. On request.
  • Right to withdraw. Subject to the SACCO's by-laws and, for share capital, typically 60-90 days notice plus refund from incoming members.
  • Right to complain to SASRA. If you believe the SACCO has breached the Act, you can lodge a complaint with SASRA on sasra.go.ke.

Watch-outs before you join

  • Share capital is not the same as deposits. Share capital is your ownership stake and is not covered by the Deposit Guarantee Fund. Deposits (in your FOSA and BOSA accounts) are.
  • Withdrawal notice. Withdrawing share capital typically requires 60-90 days notice. Do not put emergency-fund money into shares.
  • Guarantor risk. If you guarantee another member's loan and they default, the SACCO can attach your savings up to the guaranteed portion. Choose guarantor relationships carefully.
  • Sector concentration. A SACCO whose members are almost all in one sector is more exposed if that sector hits trouble. Read the annual report for the loan-book breakdown.

Sources

  1. SASRA register of Licensed Deposit-Taking SACCOs, sasra.go.ke/licensed-dt-saccos, accessed 26 August 2026. Ukulima Sacco appears on the register.
  2. SACCO Societies Act No. 14 of 2008 (as amended), particularly section 55 (Deposit Guarantee Fund) and the licensing provisions.
  3. SACCO Societies (Deposit Taking) Regulations 2010.
  4. Ukulima Sacco member communications and by-laws, published on www.ukulimasacco.co.ke. Confirm current entry fee, minimum share capital and monthly contribution directly with the SACCO, published amounts change annually.