Background Information
The St. Michael’s The Archangel Catholic Church Otiende Self-Help Group began on September 14, 1997, at St. Michael’s in Otiende Lang’ata, initiated by community members from Kibra and Lang’ata for social and economic empowerment. With guidance from the Archdiocese of Nairobi Development Office, a management committee was formed, and accounts were opened with Standard Chartered Bank and later Caritas Microfinance Bank.
At the group’s first meeting, 154 members registered, contributing initial fees and learning about registration, savings, and loan procedures. Collections started in December 1997, leading to the group’s first loan issuance in 1999. By December 1999, the group had Ksh 930,119 in share capital and Ksh 823,913 in loans.
In 2015, the group automated its systems, driving member growth, operational efficiency, and an increase in savings to Ksh 27 million. Today, the group has over 2,300 members, savings above Ksh 100 million, and a loan portfolio of Ksh 28 million, fueled by strong marketing, capacity building, and continuous operational improvement.
CORE FUNCTIONS
- Encourage thrift among its members by affording them an opportunity for accumulating their savings;
- Provide an opportunity for each of its members to improve their respective socio-economic conditions;
- Provide members with credit for purposes of improvements, production and/or both;
- Ensure safety and soundness of the members’ funds;
- Ensure the progress of its members by educating them continuously on the proper use of credit
- Perform the functions and exercise the powers designated for a group under the applicable guidelines of Social promotion registered trustees for the benefit of the members.
Our Vision
To become a socio-economically empowered society.
Our Mission
To socio-economically empower Lang’ata community and beyond through savings mobilization, provision of affordable credit, capacity building and social interventions.
Our Core Values
Integrity
St. Michael Jikaze Self-Help Group will be honest in all its dealings and consistently adhere to strong moral and ethical principles and values without compromise.
Customer focus
St. Michael Jikaze Self-Help Group shall endeavor into putting its members’ needs first. It shall be dedicated into enhancing customer satisfaction and building strong customer relationships.
Innovation
SMTACCOSHG will ride on the most recent technology in all its operations. This will involve automation of services to enhance efficiency in service delivery.
Professionalism
The management and staff of SMTACCOSHG shall uphold high level of professionalism in their conduct and service to ensure a great and satisfactory customer service experience. It will aim at achieving reliability, competence, dependability and respect to all.
Solidarity
Alone, SMTACCOSHG cannot be able to deliver the best service to its members. The group will endeavor to build good relationships with all stakeholders involved for the effective and efficient service delivery of services to members
Transparency and Accountability
SMTACCOSHG shall diligently uphold this value in all its operations. It shall safeguard its members’ and other stakeholders’ investments and interests through proper accounting and timely disclosure of all the essential information for suitable decision making.