The visit is expected to lead to further exchanges between the two countries /HANDOUTBotswana is studying Kenya’s SACCO sector as it seeks to strengthen governance, digital financial services and the financial sustainability of cooperative institutions.
Botswana Vice President Ndaba Gaolathe led a delegation to Kenya National Police DT SACCO for a benchmarking visit aimed at understanding how the Kenyan institution has expanded its services and adapted to changing member needs.
The delegation examined the SACCO’s approach to governance, savings mobilisation, digital services, member education and institutional sustainability.
Gaolathe said the visit had provided lessons that Botswana could apply in strengthening its own cooperative sector.
“The discipline of your board members is remarkable. From today’s interactions, we have learned a great deal. We are not only taking learnings with us; we now know what we are going to act on,” he said.
The visit comes as Botswana looks to improve the performance and resilience of its cooperative institutions, with Kenya’s SACCO movement providing a regional example of how member-based financial organisations can expand beyond traditional savings and lending services.
National Police DT SACCO chairman David Mategwa said the engagement demonstrated the potential for African institutions to learn from each other rather than relying solely on models from outside the continent.
“This visit is a testament to the value of sharing African solutions with one another,” Mategwa said.
The discussions also focused on how SACCOs can use technology to improve access to financial services while maintaining a strong savings culture among members.
Kenya National Police DT SACCO chief executive Solomon Angutsa Atsiaya said the institution’s transformation had been driven by changes in members’ financial needs.
“Our transformation has been driven by a simple principle: a SACCO must continuously evolve around the needs of its members,” he said.
Atsiaya pointed to digitalisation as a major part of the SACCO’s growth, describing its digital platform as its “biggest branch”. He, however, stressed that technology had not replaced the need to encourage members to save.
The delegation also looked at the wider role of cooperatives in areas including education, healthcare, climate action and community development.
The visit is expected to lead to further exchanges between the two countries, with Gaolathe inviting Kenya National Police DT SACCO officials to Botswana for a reciprocal visit.
