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Stima SACCO is one of Kenya’s largest and most consistent deposit-taking SACCOs, and for the 2025 financial year it paid members a 16% dividend on share capital and an 11% interest rebate on deposits. That is well ahead of what a typical bank savings or fixed deposit account returns, which is why Stima SACCO keeps appearing near the top of “best SACCO” lists in Kenya. This honest Stima SACCO review walks through the returns, the loans, the fees, who can join, and the downsides that the marketing pages tend to skip.
Stima SACCO is regulated by the Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA), the same body that supervises Kenya’s deposit-taking SACCOs, so your savings sit inside a licensed, audited institution rather than an informal group. Below we cover exactly what you earn, what you can borrow, and whether Stima SACCO is the right home for your money.
What is Stima SACCO?
Stima SACCO is a deposit-taking savings and credit co-operative that started in the energy sector (its name comes from “stima”, the Swahili word for electricity) but has since opened its doors to all Kenyans. It is a member-owned business: you save with it, you borrow from it, and at the end of the year you share in its profits through dividends and rebates. As of its 2025 results, Stima SACCO reported an asset base of about KSh 59.15 billion, member deposits of roughly KSh 43.13 billion, and a loan book of around KSh 45.2 billion, which places it among the biggest SACCOs in the country.
Because it is SASRA-licensed, Stima SACCO must meet capital, liquidity and reporting standards and submit to regular supervision. That regulation does not guarantee your money the way a bank deposit-insurance scheme might, but it does mean the SACCO is held to real, enforceable rules. For a deeper explainer on how SACCOs are structured, see our guide on what a SACCO is and how it works in Kenya.
Who Stima SACCO is for
Stima SACCO suits salaried and self-employed Kenyans who want a disciplined way to save, earn a competitive return, and access affordable credit against those savings. It works for people in the energy sector where it has deep roots, but membership is open far beyond that. If you value steady, once-a-year returns and cheap loans more than instant access to your cash, it is a strong fit. If you need to withdraw at any moment, read the deposits section below carefully first.
Stima SACCO dividends and interest rebates
Stima SACCO pays members in two ways, and it is important to keep them separate. A dividend is paid on your share capital, and an interest rebate is paid on your deposits. For the 2025 financial year, members approved a dividend of 16% on share capital and an interest rebate of 11% on deposits, a combined payout of roughly KSh 5.1 billion. These figures were declared at the 2026 annual delegates meeting and are accurate as of that announcement.
Those two rates apply to two different pots of money, so you cannot simply add them. Your share capital (a fixed, non-refundable stake) earns the 16% dividend, while your ordinary deposits (your growing savings) earn the 11% rebate. Both are strong numbers by Kenyan standards, comfortably ahead of most bank products and broadly competitive with the top money market funds, with the difference that SACCO returns are declared once a year rather than accruing daily.
| Stima SACCO 2025 returns | Rate | Paid on |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend | 16% | Share capital |
| Interest rebate | 11% | Member deposits |
| Total member payout | ~KSh 5.1 billion | Across all members |
One honest caveat: SACCO dividend and rebate rates are declared each year and are not guaranteed. A 16% dividend in one year does not promise 16% the next. Strong, consistent history (Stima has paid in the mid-teens for several years) is reassuring, but you should treat future returns as likely rather than certain.
Share capital vs deposits at Stima SACCO
This is the part new members most often get wrong. Share capital is your ownership stake in the SACCO. It earns the dividend, but it is not withdrawable while you remain a member; you only recover it if you formally exit and transfer your shares. Deposits are your ordinary savings. They earn the interest rebate, they build your loan entitlement, and they can be withdrawn under the SACCO’s rules, though usually with notice rather than instantly.
Stima SACCO also runs a non-withdrawable savings product (its Alpha Deposit account) that boosts how much you can borrow. The practical takeaway: to maximise both your dividend and your borrowing power, you build share capital and deposits steadily over time. Our guide on SACCO shares vs deposits breaks this difference down further, because getting it right changes how much you earn and how much you can borrow.
Stima SACCO loans
Cheap credit is the main reason many Kenyans join a SACCO, and Stima SACCO offers a full range of loans: development loans, emergency loans, school-fees loans, asset finance and more. As with most Kenyan SACCOs, how much you can borrow is a multiple of your deposits and non-withdrawable savings, and your deposits act as part of your security. That is why members save consistently: a bigger savings base unlocks a bigger loan.
To qualify, you generally need to have been a member for at least three months (six months for corporate members), hold the minimum share capital, and meet the specific product’s terms. SACCO loans are typically priced well below unsecured bank and mobile loans, but the exact interest rate, multiplier and repayment period vary by product and are reviewed periodically, so confirm the current figures directly with Stima SACCO before you plan around them. For the mechanics of borrowing, see our guide on how to get a SACCO loan in Kenya and how SACCO loan limits work.
A worked example
Say you save KSh 10,000 a month with Stima SACCO. After a year you would have KSh 120,000 in deposits. On that balance, an 11% rebate would be worth roughly KSh 13,200 for the year (before any product-specific terms), and your deposits would also anchor your loan entitlement, often letting you borrow a multiple of what you have saved. Keep saving at that pace and both your annual rebate and your borrowing power grow each year. This is the compounding discipline a SACCO is built to encourage.
How to join Stima SACCO
Membership is open to resident and non-resident Kenyans, including the diaspora, and you can join as an individual, a group or a corporate. The steps are straightforward:
- Complete the Stima SACCO membership application form (available online or at a branch).
- Provide a copy of your national ID or passport, your KRA PIN and a passport photograph.
- Pay the one-off membership fee and your initial share capital.
- Set up a monthly savings contribution, ideally by standing order or check-off, so your deposits grow consistently.
- Wait out the short qualifying period (about three months for individuals) before applying for your first loan.
For a general walkthrough that applies to any SACCO, our guide on how to join a SACCO in Kenya covers the paperwork and common mistakes to avoid.
Stima SACCO pros and cons
No SACCO is perfect, and our job is to give you both sides.
The upsides
- Strong, consistent returns: a 16% dividend and 11% rebate in 2025, ahead of most bank products.
- SASRA-regulated: a large, licensed and audited institution rather than an informal chama.
- Affordable loans against your savings, usually far cheaper than bank or mobile loans.
- Open membership, including for the diaspora, with individual, group and corporate options.
The downsides
- Your money is not instant-access. Share capital is locked while you are a member, and deposit withdrawals usually need notice.
- Returns are declared once a year, not accrued daily like a money market fund, so you wait for your payout.
- Rates are not guaranteed. A great year does not promise the next will match it.
- Loans need guarantors or sufficient savings, which takes time to build as a new member.
If instant access matters more to you than a once-a-year payout, it is worth comparing Stima SACCO against a money market fund. Our honest comparison of a SACCO vs a money market fund lays out where each one wins, and you can see how Stima stacks up against peers in our roundup of the best SACCOs in Kenya.
Frequently asked questions
How much dividend does Stima SACCO pay?
For the 2025 financial year, Stima SACCO paid a 16% dividend on share capital and an 11% interest rebate on deposits, a total payout of about KSh 5.1 billion. These rates are declared each year and can change, so confirm the latest figure with the SACCO.
Is Stima SACCO safe and regulated?
Yes. Stima SACCO is a deposit-taking SACCO licensed and supervised by SASRA, so it must meet capital, liquidity and reporting standards. That is not the same as bank deposit insurance, but it means the SACCO is regulated and audited.
Who can join Stima SACCO?
Membership is open to all resident and non-resident Kenyans, including the diaspora, as individuals, groups or corporates. You need an ID or passport, a KRA PIN, a passport photo, and the initial membership fee and share capital.
How much can I borrow from Stima SACCO?
Your loan limit is a multiple of your deposits and non-withdrawable savings, subject to each product’s terms and your qualifying period. Save consistently to grow your borrowing power. Confirm current multipliers and rates directly with Stima SACCO.
Disclaimer: The content on Sarafu is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial, investment, or professional advice. Dividend rates, interest rebates and figures mentioned are approximate and were sourced at the time of writing; SACCO rates are declared annually and can change. Always do your own research, verify current figures directly with Stima SACCO or SASRA, and consider consulting a licensed financial advisor before making any decision.
