Skip to content
paybillke
SACCOs

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

How to join Unaitas Sacco, a SASRA-licensed Deposit-Taking SACCO serving nationwide, Nairobi headquarters. Eligibility, entry fee, minimum share capital, monthly contributions and Deposit Guarantee Fund cover. Verified 26 August 2026.

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

Who Unaitas Sacco is for

Unaitas Sacco is a nationwide general-public common bond, SME and chama focus DT-SACCO. One of the largest general-public DT-SACCOs in Kenya per SASRA supervisory report. Verified on the SASRA register of Licensed Deposit-Taking SACCOs (sasra.go.ke/licensed-dt-saccos, accessed 26 August 2026).

Common bond and eligibility. Originally for tea and coffee farmers in Murang’a as Muramati Sacco. Common bond expanded on rebrand to Unaitas in 2012 and Unaitas now accepts general members including SMEs, salaried workers, chamas and cooperatives across Kenya.

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-tier SACCOs pay in the low-double-digit range historically; per-year declared rates for Unaitas Sacco are published in the AGM circular and member portal.
  • Interest on deposits (BOSA and FOSA savings). Interest is credited on qualifying savings balances at the end of the year. See share capital vs deposits explained.
  • 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, Unaitas Sacco operates a Front Office. This typically 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. See FOSA vs BOSA explained.
  • 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. See deposit guarantee fund explained.

How to join Unaitas Sacco, step by step

  1. Confirm you fall within the common bond. Originally Murang’a tea and coffee farmers (as Muramati). Rebranded 2012 and now open to the general public nationwide.
  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 Unaitas Sacco branch (headquartered in Nairobi) or the member portal on unaitas.com.
  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 with Unaitas Sacco.
  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; see share capital vs deposits explained.
  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 the SACCO's M-PESA paybill (published on unaitas.com).
  7. Get your member number. Save it. This is the account number you use for every contribution.
  8. Serve the qualifying savings period. Typically six months of consistent contributions before you can access most loan products.

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 to 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 to 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 or region is more exposed if that sector or region 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. Unaitas Sacco appears on the 2026 gazetted list of 176 DT-SACCOs.
  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. Unaitas Sacco member communications and by-laws, published on unaitas.com. Confirm current entry fee, minimum share capital and monthly contribution directly with the SACCO, published amounts change annually. Rates marked unverified where a specific figure is not cited to a primary source.