Mentor Savings and Credit Cooperative Society(SACCO) has CPA Joyce Waceke Ndegwa as its CEO. The Muranga-based Mentor SACCO, is one of the few financial cooperatives headed by a female top executive.
A mother, wife and a qualified accountant with a University degree in Commerce( Finance) from the KCA University, Mrs Ndegwa has assembled a high-calibre team that has driven Mentor SACCO to great heights. This is since taking over at Mentor some nine years ago.
When she was promoted to head Mentor SACCO, the institution had total assets valued at KSh 7 billion. Today, the SACCO’s balance sheet has grown three-fold to close at KSh 19 billion in 2025.
Under her firm and consultative management style, Mrs Ndegwa and her team at Mentor Plaza have been able to grow the Society’s membership, revenues, deposits and loan book size.
Mentor SACCO Growth Figures in 9 years
Mentor has grown its membership from 16,5000 in 2017 to over 55,000 now. Revenues have increased from KSh 890 million to KSh 2.2 billion in 2025 Deposits from members has more than trebled to KSh 13 billion from KSh 4.3 billion in 2017.
“I inherited a loan book size of KSh 5.1 billion. The institution’s loan book has since expanded to KSh 14 billion in 2025. We project to close this year with a loan book of about KSh 20 billion. This is based on the unaudited financials that we have now,” said Mrs Ndegwa in an interview at the Society’s Head Offices in Muranga town.
Mrs Ndegwa found Mentor SACCO with an outstanding loan debt of KSh 300 million. This debt was cleared the same year that she took over the Society’s affairs.
She attributes success at Mentor SACCO to strong patronage from members of the Society’s financial products and services. “I thank members for their loyalty and support as well as being our great ambassadors,” said Mrs Ndegwa.
Origins of Mentor SACCO
Established in 1977 by a group of 546 primary school teachers in the then Muranga district, Mentor SACCO has undergone significant transformation. In its 50-year journey of existence, the former Murata SACCO today has a balance sheet size approaching KSh 20 billion. The Society is planning to hold its Golden Jubilee celebrations beginning January next year.
Mentor SACCO opened its common bond in 2009. This allowed the Society to recruit members beyond primary school teachers from Muranga.
“Mentor SACCO evolved over time until 2009. The Board found it prudent to accommodate members beyond primary school teachers. We therefore have members from various Government departments, especially the Ministry of Education,” said Mrs Ndegwa.
The SACCO’s name was Murata SACCO then, until 2011 when the Society felt the need to extend its membership beyond Muranga County as well as reach out to those not in the teaching profession.
Mentor SACCO Branch Network
“Currently, we have six branches. There are two branches outside Muranga County, one in Nairobi and another in Kiambu County. We have the Head Office here in Muranga. Other branches are in Kenol, Ithanga and Thika, making a total of 4 in Muranga,”said Mrs Ndegwa.
Mentor also runs 5 satellite offices located in Muranga sub-counties of Kahuro, Kangema, Kiria-ini, Kangare, and Kandara, making a total of 5 such offices. These are points that Mentor SACCO uses to reach out to members seeking for services such as general enquiries or delivery of documents to the SACCO.
The SACCO is governed by 9 board members drawn from each of the 9 Muranga County sub counties. These 9 sub-counties have been merged into three regions from 3 members are drawn to sit on the Supervisory Board.
Since the rebranding exercise, Mentor SACCO has received overwhelming response from the public, including acceptability from members who are not teachers as well as those from outside Muranga County.
“The diversity of membership has come with huge growth of the SACCO. We now have member teachers from outside Muranga County, such as Machakos County and Kajiado. We have a teacher member from virtually each of the 47 counties. This SACCO has grown courtesy of our members. They are Society’s strength and brand ambassadors, marketing us to their relatives and friends,” said Mrs. Ndegwa.
