Kenyan SACCOs see surge in land, housing and medical loans

Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs) in Kenya disbursed Sh33.74 billion in land and housing loans during the first quarter of 2026, an 18 percent increase over the same period in 2025 and a rise of Sh5.15 billion from the prior year. The growth follows a recovery after a decline in 2025 and continues a trend of strong property‑financing demand throughout 2024‑2025.

Medical loans issued by SACCOs reached Sh2.79 billion in the three months to March 2026, a 31 percent year‑on‑year jump, making them the fastest‑growing credit segment for the sector. Loans are offered at about 1 percent per month, repayable over 36 months, and are used to cover hospital bills, medicines, health‑insurance contributions and other health‑related expenses in a context where only roughly 2.4 percent of the population has medical insurance and about 30 percent is covered by the Social Health Authority.