“I have always viewed KES. 10 as very little money to save,” echoed Daniel Mugo, the Chairperson of Milimani Youth Group, a Community-Based Organization (CBO) based in Naishi, Lare Division in Njoro Sub-County.

Daniel is among 52 others who attended financial literacy forums organized by MIDRIFT HURINET that aimed at capacity-building community members on financial literacy and embracing a savings culture. Under the ECCESS project, MIDRIFT seeks to empower community members to address their socio-economic challenges as a strategy for financial security, making them less vulnerable to political mobilization, manipulation, and incitement to engage in electoral violence. The forums targeted men, women, youth, and people with disabilities (PWDs) and challenged them to use the already available resources to better their livelihoods and become self-sufficient, countering over-reliance on politicians and well-wishers.

Daniel, a small-scale farmer cultivating vegetables at the back of his house, started saving KES. 10.00 daily from the sales made selling his vegetables in his neighborhood. Within a month, he reported to have saved over KES. 1,000. “10 shillings is not a lot of money, saving it was not difficult. I was so excited when I accumulated all the money and found out that I had over 1000 shillings,” he said.

Thrilled over his new gains, Daniel then sensitized members of the Milimali CBO on the value of small savings, using his experience as an example. He shared the knowledge he gained from attending MIDRIFT’s interventions, informing the group members on how they could save a small ratio of the monies earned in their water vendor business and make a profit. “We sell each jerrycan of water (5 litres) at KES. 5.00. All payments were made in cash, which made it hard to save and be accountable as everyone in the group could directly interact with the customers.”

After the sensitization, the members saw the need to start saving all the monies received from the sale of water; and resolved to secure a PayBill number, linked directly to their bank account, through which the customers could pay for water purchased. “This made the saving process very easy. We also saw the need to have a leadership structure in the group to help us hold each other accountable.” This strategy enabled the Milimani group to save up to KES. 50,000 between January and March, 2024. The group also opened up a new water selling point in the neighborhood, expanding their business. Through this active bank account, the Milimani CBO envisions accessing the government-devolved funds to further expand its operations.

“So many groups are dormant due to lack of awareness on the potential they have to enhance their financial security,” Daniel observed. In this regard, he opted to meet with some community members in Njoro whose groups had been dormant and sensitized them on the importance of groups in enhancing the economic capacities of the members through savings. Following this intervention, one of the groups – Milimani Self Help Group, renewed the group’s Registration Certificate, all while in the process of reviving Maji Moto CBO (an umbrella CBO comprising a number of Self-Help Groups).

Take the first step toward financial empowerment, start saving today, and see your money increase over time! Every penny counts.

By Judy Gathura