Sacco IT Professionals Association Launched

The digital transformation of Kenya’s cooperative sector received a major boost today with the official launch of the Sacco IT Professionals Association (SITPA) in Nairobi.

SITPA brings together IT professionals serving in SACCOs across the country, with a shared mission to empower and accelerate innovation, integrity, and collaboration within the financial cooperative space.

The launch event drew participation from high-level government officials, technology innovators, financial sector leaders, regulators and SACCO IT professionals, signalling a strong commitment to strengthening the digital backbone of Kenya’s cooperative movement.

Engineer John Tanui, Principal Secretary, State Department of ICT and the Digital Economy, in a speech, lauded the establishment of SITPA as a landmark moment.

“The launch of SITPA is more than the formation of a professional body. It marks the birth of a movement poised to shape the future of cooperative finance, trust in digital services, and accelerate Kenya’s journey towards a more inclusive, technology-enabled economy,” said Tanui. “Kenya remains committed to leading Africa’s digital transformation as a benchmark and a driving force for the continent’s digital trade future.”

With more than 5,000 registered SACCOs and over 14 million members, Kenya’s cooperative sector plays a critical role in financial inclusion and grassroots economic development. However, the sector also faces growing pressure to modernize and keep pace with evolving digital risks, regulatory expectations, and member demands.

SITPA enters the scene as a timely and strategic platform aimed at unifying IT professionals in SACCOs, facilitating knowledge sharing, addressing sector-wide technology challenges, and supporting sustainable digital transformation.

Speaking at the launch, Robert Mogoi, SITPA Chairman emphasized the importance of collaboration and professional development in unlocking sector-wide progress.

“We are delighted by the launch of SITPA, and I’m excited to welcome every SACCO IT professional to a historic moment in our industry,” Mogoi said. “The Association aims to combine diverse technological experiences to create a strong synergy that shares knowledge, simplifies challenges, and builds the SACCO sector’s sustainability. We believe collaboration and collective action are critical to helping SACCOs adopt more innovative technologies and overcome the most pressing challenges.”

SITPA is guided by five core values: Innovation, Integrity, Accountability, Professionalism, and Collaboration. Its mission is to serve as a trusted platform where SACCO IT experts can engage, grow, and lead Kenya’s cooperatives into a secure, digital-first future.

The launch of SITPA reflects a wider trend in Kenya’s fintech and cooperative landscape, where strategic digitization, cybersecurity, and smart platforms are reshaping service delivery. As SACCOs move toward more automated systems, paperless workflows, and mobile-driven member engagement, the role of IT professionals becomes increasingly central.

By establishing SITPA, Kenya has taken a proactive step toward ensuring that SACCOs have the skilled, empowered professionals they need to lead secure and sustainable digital transformation.