The share of women CEOs in Kenyan Saccos has increased to 36.9 percent in 2025, according to data from the Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (Sasra). This represents a rise from 33.33 percent in 2024. The increase is notable in the financial sector, which is typically dominated by male executives. Saccos have made significant strides in gender representation, with women now occupying a higher proportion of CEO positions compared to listed companies on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).
Women’s share of board seats in regulated Saccos edged up marginally to 25.5 percent from 25.44 percent in 2024. Despite this progress, the sector still lags behind the one-third benchmark, with approximately 239 additional women needed to reach this target if the total number of directors remains unchanged. The slow movement in board representation contrasts with the increase in female CEOs, whose share rose by more than three percentage points in one year.
The broader corporate sector in Kenya also faces challenges with the gender gap. According to the Kenya Institute of Management (KIM), women occupied 32 percent of CEO positions nationally in 2025, leaving men with over two-thirds. In the banking sector, women hold only five of the top jobs in Kenya's 38 banks. This highlights the ongoing struggle for gender balance in leadership positions across various industries.
Sasra attributes the appointment of CEOs to sacco boards, subject to the regulator’s prior approval. Directors are jointly accountable to sacco members and the regulator for matters including records, internal controls, and provisions for losses. This makes board compositions central to institutional oversight. The regulator reported that the number of regulated saccos increased from 355 in 2024 to 357 in 2025.
The increase in female CEOs is more pronounced in non-withdrawable deposit-taking saccos. Women accounted for 45.14 percent of CEOs in this segment in 2025, compared with 43.21 percent in 2024. Their share of board seats increased marginally from 29.44 percent to 29.58 percent. However, deposit-taking saccos, which are generally larger and more complex, recorded a lower female share of CEOs at 29.05 percent.
Despite progress, the chairperson’s office in saccos remains dominated by men. Among deposit-taking saccos, women held 14 of 179 chairperson positions in 2025, representing 7.82 percent, up from 11 positions or 6.21 percent in 2024. In non-withdrawable deposit-taking Saccos, the number of women chairpersons fell from 20 to 19, reducing their share from 11.24 percent to 10.73 percent.
The number of directors in regulated saccos rose from 3,019 to 3,047, with women taking nine of the 28 additional seats and men taking the remaining 19. Women board directors increased from 768 to 777 over the year, while their male counterparts rose from 2,251 to 2,270. This leaves men with 74.5 percent of board seats at the end of 2025.
Key points
- The share of women CEOs in Kenyan Saccos has risen to 36.9 percent in 2025.
- Women occupy 25.5 percent of board seats in regulated Saccos.
- The sector still lags behind the one-third benchmark for gender representation.
