Clergyken Sacco chairperson Peter Macharia, who is also New Life Ministries bishop, Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia and other leaders during a county event.
| File | Nation Media GroupNyandarua
Premium
Clerics form Sacco to end over-reliance on ‘sadaka’
For a long time, clerics were seen as people who depended mainly on church offerings and tithes that they collected from their congregations.
It is believed that without such offerings or 'sadaka', clerics would not have the oomph to preach the gospel.
But in Nyandarua, religious officials have decided to change the narrative. Over 400 clerics have founded a Sacco to improve their welfare. Though the society is mainly for the men and women of the cloth, membership is open to the general public. They hope to save money from their farming, bodaboda and other small businesses, and get loans.
Some of the clerics own rental houses and other properties, though a majority are farmers and small-scale traders.
At the launch of Clergyken Savings and Credit Cooperative Society at Ndunyu Njeru market in Kinangop, chairperson Peter Macharia said their society is modelled on teachers’ Saccos that started small and targeted professionals but grew into giant financial institutions.
Begging
“We want the clergy to shift from the tradition of begging, relying on, and borrowing from worshippers. We want to be economically independent,” he said.
“Most clergy live from hand to mouth for lack of reliable income and investment opportunities. That is why we hear some funny stories about preachers, yet, like any other human beings, they have families and need economic growth.”
The Sacco has 489 founder members and hopes to hit 1,000 by the end of this month and 5,000 in three years. The founder members contributed Sh1,000 in registration fee, with minimum shares of Sh5,000 before embarking on savings. The Sacco received its registration certificates in June.
46 counties
“We intend to open branches in all the sub-counties then move to the other 46 counties. We are offering emergency and development loans,” said Archbishop Macharia. “The biggest challenge to the clergy has been school fees since they are considered unsuitable for bursaries. We are, therefore, giving special education loans to the members.”
He said they will partner with well-wishers locally and internationally to turn the society into a giant financial institution.
The group is the second in Kenya to form such a Sacco, after their counterparts in Elgeyo-Marakwet County did so in 2014. More than 1,000 clerics joined the Mchungaji Sacco, whose members include bishops, reverends, pastors, evangelists, catechists and imams.
