Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs) play a critical role in Kenya’s financial system, mobilising savings and extending financial services to households and small enterprises that remain underserved by formal banking networks. While the SACCO sector has grown nationally, access to cooperative finance remains uneven, especially across remote rangeland regions where formal financial infrastructure is limited. Rangelands SACCO was established to close this gap in the landscapes of northern and coastal Kenya. Pastoral and agropastoral communities experience mobility, seasonal income, and frequent exposure to shocks, making traditional financial products poorly suited to these realities. Rangelands SACCO is designed specifically for these contexts, offering a secure platform for members to save, access credit, and build financial discipline over time. It has also become a catalyst for grassroots economic activity in remote areas traditionally excluded from financial services.

Through the SACCO, members are better able to smooth income variability, invest in businesses, meet emergency needs, and plan for expenses such as education and asset acquisition. By keeping financial resources circulating locally, the SACCO reinforces economic resilience within community conservancies.

Since its establishment in 2016, Rangelands SACCO has evolved into a community‑owned, community‑driven financial institution serving over 7,000 members across 45 NRT conservancies. 

MashinaniWORKS supports the Rangelands SACCO by strengthening its institutional and operational foundations. This includes governance support to ensure transparency and accountability, as well as systems development to manage savings, loans, and risk effectively. MashinaniWORKS’ continued involvement focuses on ensuring that this institution remains sound, inclusive, and aligned with the needs of its members.