Membership Terms & Conditions
1. Nature of these Terms
These Membership Terms & Conditions explain what you are joining when you register with Soyosoyo SACCO through self-registration, the member portal, or the mobile app.
They sit alongside the SACCO’s constitution and by-laws, lawful resolutions of its organs, the Co-operative Societies Act Cap 490 (Laws of Kenya) and Rules, applicable county co-operative laws, the published Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and (when you apply for credit) the Loan Application Terms.
On SACCO-specific membership rights and duties, the constitution, by-laws, and lawful organ decisions prevail. These Terms help you understand the digital join process; they do not replace the by-laws.
2. Eligibility
You must be able to enter a binding membership relationship under Kenyan law and meet the eligibility qualifications in the by-laws, including being within the field of membership, at least 18 years of age, not a member of a similar co-operative within the area of operation, good character and sound mind, and payment of the prescribed entrance fee and share capital.
Submitting a digital application and paying a registration fee does not create unrestricted rights if you are ineligible, if required KYC is incomplete or false, or if the Management Committee lawfully refuses admission.
3. Application, admission, and KYC
Self-registration is an application for membership. Under the by-laws, an applicant is admitted on acceptance by a majority vote of the Management Committee, and does not qualify for the full rights and privileges of membership until the non-refundable entrance / registration fee and at least one share (as prescribed in the by-laws) have been paid.
The Management Committee may refuse admission with reasons in writing. A person otherwise eligible may appeal to the next General Meeting through a registered member; the General Meeting’s decision is final under the by-laws.
You must provide true, complete, and not misleading personal information. By-laws may require identity documents and photographs; digital channels collect equivalent KYC for the membership register. False information may lead to refusal, cancellation, or later sanctions under the by-laws.
4. Fees, shares, and contributions
The by-laws prescribe a non-refundable registration / entrance fee of Kenya Shillings two hundred (KES 200) and payment in full for at least one share whose nominal value is Kenya Shillings three thousand (KES 3,000), which a General Meeting may change.
The amount charged at self-registration via STK or paybill is the published fee for that channel and programme at the time you pay (commonly KES 200 standard, or a higher published amount such as KES 300 when a referral programme applies). Any referrer reward follows the SACCO’s published incentive programme and is not an additional membership right of the new member.
Share capital and regular monthly contributions build your savings base. Ongoing contribution rules, invoices, and product minimums follow SACCO settings and by-laws. Loan eligibility and savings-based headroom follow credit policy and live portal product rules — not these join Terms alone.
5. Member referral and incentive programmes
Where the SACCO has enabled a member referral (or other incentive) programme, you may optionally declare that you were referred by an existing member at self-registration. You must search and select that member on the form; incomplete referral selections are rejected.
When a valid referral is selected, the published referred registration fee and referrer commission apply as configured for that SACCO (for Soyosoyo, commonly KES 300 total with KES 100 paid to the referrer after your payment succeeds). Standard joins without a referral use the published standard fee (commonly KES 200).
Referral and other incentive programmes are part of the SACCO’s ongoing digital membership channels. They do not replace by-law admission rules, share capital requirements, or Management Committee powers. Self-referral is not allowed. Programme amounts and enablement remain under SACCO settings and may change by official configuration.
6. Rights and obligations of members
Subject to the by-laws and full admission, members typically enjoy rights such as participating in general meetings (one member, one vote), using lawful facilities and services, receiving periodic statements, and accessing legitimate information about the society under its policies.
Members must observe the by-laws and organ decisions; buy and pay up shares and other prescribed payments; repay loans owed; support approved projects; attend meetings where required; and show good co-operative spirit.
Digital status labels (active, suspended, exited) reflect SACCO policy and system rules. Disputes are raised first through SACCO channels.
7. Savings, risk / benevolent arrangements, and set-off
Deposits and share capital are held under the SACCO’s rules. Partial withdrawal of non-withdrawable deposits is not allowed under the by-laws.
Where the by-laws provide a compulsory benevolent / risk fund to insure members’ loans and savings on death, contributing members participate as prescribed. Outstanding loans of a deceased member may be handled under those by-law provisions.
Amounts owed to the SACCO as borrower, endorser, guarantor, or otherwise may be deducted when settling accounts on exit, death claims, or recovery, subject to the by-laws and applicable law.
8. Credit and other products
Membership does not guarantee any loan, amount, rate, or disbursement. Credit applications are governed by the Loan Application Terms, the credit policy, product rules, guarantor requirements, liquidity, and live portal qualification rules.
Family standing orders, wallet, dividends, and contribution products follow SACCO policy and system rules disclosed in-app or by officials.
9. Suspension, expulsion, withdrawal, and nominees
The Management Committee may suspend a member on grounds set out in the by-laws (including wilful non-compliance, loan default beyond the period stated in the by-laws, conduct detrimental to the society, or serious criminal conviction), subject to General Meeting processes for expulsion.
A member may withdraw by giving written notice of up to sixty (60) days as provided in the by-laws, during which accounts are settled. Ex-members remain responsible for outstanding liabilities unless alternative arrangements acceptable to the society are made.
Members should nominate one or more persons in writing as nominee(s) for deposits, interest, and dividends after deductions owed to the society, as provided in the by-laws.
10. Data protection and communications
You consent to the SACCO (and its authorised technology providers acting as processors) processing personal and financial data for membership administration, KYC, contributions, credit, collections, audit, regulatory, and communication purposes as described in the Privacy Policy and Kenya’s Data Protection Act, 2019.
You consent to receive membership, payment, and service notices by SMS, email, in-app notification, or other channels on file.
11. Electronic acceptance
Ticking “I agree” (or equivalent) and submitting self-registration constitutes your electronic signature and acceptance of these Membership Terms, and acknowledgement of the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy linked at registration.
The SACCO may retain records of your acceptance (version, date/time, identity, pending registration or member reference, and fee channel) for audit and dispute resolution.
If you do not agree, do not submit the registration or pay the fee.
12. Governing law and disputes
Membership is governed by the laws of Kenya, including the Co-operative Societies Act Cap 490 and Rules, applicable county co-operative legislation, the SACCO’s constitution and by-laws, and competent dispute mechanisms including internal SACCO channels and the Co-operative Tribunal where the Act so provides.
Nothing in these Terms excludes statutory rights that cannot legally be waived.