Satisfaction and Confidence, Savers Pledge Life-Time Membership to UTS

By Malachi Motano

Leader Testimonial “My name is Simeon Kioko Kitheka, the Chairman of UTS. I joined in 1993, back then I was a teacher, resigned and became a business consultant, which I don’t regret to date. Where we are seated is my farm, I got a loan from UTS, to buy the farm which is 25 acres. I also got a loan for business.

From UTS loans, I dug a dam, bought a lorry which is a water boozer, which I use to sell water. I also have a hotel which has created employment to over 50 young men and women, who are all paid through the SACCO. I deposit money on daily basis and all my allowances pass through the SACCO. All my children and my wife have accounts at the SACCO, which has become my primary Bank.

In my capacity as the Chairman, though it will be officially

Chairman Kitheka at his farm in Vota Katumani.

reported at the ADM next year, I would like to tell Nairobi that we are coming. Already we have constituted a committee, to work on the logistics. My vision for the SACCO is, that I want it to be the biggest SACCO in the country, that assists people, the way it has assisted me to grow.” he concluded.

SACCOS, like other financial institutions, have always reported outstanding performances to members, either at the annual general or delegates meetings respectively.

Whether the achievements are projected on a graph or the reality on the ground, is yet to be established. However, SACCO Times Magazine, with the case study of Universal Traders SACCO (UTS), was able to get to the bottom of this dilemma, getting stories from the SACCO Members themselves.

John Mwaura, is the Chairman of Space Capital Limited, which gives loans to people with small businesses; money to either start or boost their business, like vegetable vendors or matatu operators.

Space Capital Staff and Chairman John Mwaura says the lender has enjoyed loans from UTS.

“I was introduced to UTS, by a teacher friend back in Embu where I come from, at the time I was working for Kenya Power

at the Gitaru station. The friend who was already a member of the SACCO, told me that UTS, was just a SACCO where one can borrow money to grow mangoes, and buy cows. As an investor, I decided to put some money there to understand the mangoes cow concept.” He stated.

“After saving for some time, I took a loan of Kshs. 170,000, for another investment. That was the beginning of my walk with UTS. I juggled my work at Kenya power with other financial investments. The one shining today, courtesy of UTS, is Space Capital, where we are five directors. Together with my finance director, we went to Machakos and met the SACCO CEO Dominic Mutunga, who listened to us and gave us an appointment to present our proposal to the Board. Our Kshs 20 million proposal was accepted, on condition that we had to save first with the SACCO.” he noted.

“We started mobilizing funds. The five directors, agreed to save Kshs 1 million each, to enable the SACCO to give us the loan. We saved for six months and were able to get the loan in 2017.Since then, we have continued saving and borrowing. We have taken about four to five loans. I have also brought in other companies, which have borrowed from UTS. Space Capital, has also given birth to some of its subsidiaries, like speed cash, double spaced among others. We have introduced all of them to UTS. We took advantage, after learning that UTS has various products. After the Kshs 20 million, we borrowed Kshs. 8 million, topped up and doubled to Kshs 40 million. The SACCO did not at any time deny us an audience.” He noted.

Michael Ochieng (CEO) and

Afritech Graphics And Press Chemicals Ltd staff, CEO and MD (not in uniform),

UTS Mlolongo Branch manager (front, third from right) and Marketing Manager Peter Kiamba (front - right).

his partner Esther Omucheni (MD), own Afritech Graphics And Press Chemicals Ltd, a print media investment, which has been in the industry for 23 years. They share their journey after joining UTS.

“I knew UTS through Peter Nzavi who was a director at UTS. Every time I passed by Mlolongo, I could see colours, that looked like Co-operative Bank and was wondering whether Co-operative market my photocopiers, thats when I met Mr. Nzavi. That is how our relationship started. “said Michael.

“We joined UTS in early 2019 and have benefited a lot, in terms of securing loans, and the overdraft facility. Processing loans at UTS can take just a day. When we wanted some money to pay entry duty, for some of our goods, but were short of Kshs I million, we went to our Branch in Mlolongo, and within that day, they released the money to us. Our main clients are schools, which were closed when cases of Covid-19 heightened. Another big client is Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB) which also closed. We had their stock but could deliver and they also had some of our money which we could not get, however, the business had to continue. We are proud that UTS, stood firmly with us. Whereas financial institutions, have so many processes, even

Bank was already here, until the day I went to for small loans like Ksh 500,000, UTS can process your loan within a very short time.” He added.

“We have taken two loans; development loans worth Kshs. 28 million. Recently, we also took education loans, for our two sons who were going to study in the UK. Currently, we have undertakings with our staff payroll, and all our 15 employees, have joined UTS. Nowadays, my staff even get salaries on 24th or 25th of every month, just like most staff working in the Banking sector; Afritech therefore, has no challenge with salaries. I just give out a pay roll, and they

pay and advance salaries to my staff. When other companies were reducing staff during the pandemic, we maintained ours. UTS is flexible and listens to customers.

Even the newest branch, has good management, that listens and acts promptly on customer’s needs. You don’t need to go to Machakos when Mlolongo is here.

Whatever we need from Machakos, we can get it in Mlolongo. So it for us to make Mlolongo branch, grow and expand. We cannot quit UTS since it has always been there for us in times of laughter and in times of difficulties.” he noted.

In Wote town, Makueni Funeral Home is the first ultra-modern state of the art funeral home, thanks to the input of UTS.

”My name is Charles Mutunga, the managing director of Makueni Funeral Home, an investment under Makueni Pamoja Association, made up of 90 members, who are both businessmen and professionals.

We were introduced to UTS, by one of our members, who was a member of the SACCO in 2012, when we needed a financier, for our building. UTS gave a loan of Kshs 5 million, to complete the construction and another Kshs. 28 million, to buy fridges, and other equipment, that were required for the business. We opened the morgue in December 2015 and have been admitting clients to this minute. “ he noted.

UTS not only benefits big businesses, like Space Capital, Afritech, Makueni Funeral Home, but also smaller businesses. Eunice Muia, sells second hand clothes, in Machakos town.” I was

Makueni Funeral Home MD Charles Mutunga and his board Secretary together with Wote UTS Branch Manager Dorcas Keli Kimeu pose for a group photo during the visit by sacco times.

introduced to UTS in 2010, by a friend who works at the SACCO. So far, I have successfully serviced two loans from the SACCO, one of Kshs. 100,000 and another Kshs 200, 000.

Eunice Muia at her shop.

Martha wa Kimuyu (left) with her Relationship Officer sharing her lifetime journey with UTS.

Currently, I am servicing another one, worth Ksh. 100,000. My business has today grown, enabling me to buy a plot and build a house. I have even introduced my two customers, to the SACCO and I pledge lifetime membership.” she noted.

Martha Nduku Wa Kimuyu, a shop owner at Kaseve shopping centre, in the outskirts of Machakos town, is another small business owner. “I Joined UTS in 1998, after being introduced by a friend. I have taken about 4 to 5 loans, with the first one being Kshs. 50,000, Kshs. 70,000 and Kshs. 50,000 respectively. Currently I am servicing another one worth Ksh. 50,000. The investments from UTS loans, have enabled me to successfully educate my children, who are today a medical doctor, pharmacist and a teacher, respectively.” she noted.