inclusion in data analysis. Comprehensive questionnaires were designed and used for collecting the data from the SACCO members who included the staff and the management committee. This study finding identified the cross-cutting issues affecting performance of SACCOs in Kenya to include; governance, inadequate human resource and skills, weak regulations and supervision, limited products and services, and low marketing as also pointed out by Mudibo (2005) Overall Nyeri Teachers shows good operational and financial performance with significant weaknesses noted in governance, information and risk management. Good governance is hampered by the tendency the members over relying on a few individuals to run the SACCO through the pronounced re-election of the committee members and a poor planning process in the education and training which are seen to be linked to political influences 45

Through data analysis it was identified that, though the SACCO has numerous savings options, it should diversify its products to take into account the needs of the greater market. The SACCO should include consideration of the special needs of the advanced in age since this segment has only been relegated to ordinary accounts as a favorable option for saving. According to Sen, (1999) benefits of education to the SACCOs are enormous, making investments in education a transformative and distributive gain. This fact was identified in this study, showing education and training will improve governance in SACCOs twofold as enlightened SACCO members will elect knowledgeable and trustworthy boards to manage their wealth and secondly, the institution of the SACCO will be strengthened enabling it to operate within the confines of existing policy. Further, a knowledgeable membership base has the power to influence future policy and skill. The board members should be willing to go through a comprehensive training program to acquire basic financial skills needed to strengthen the SACCO and provide adequate direction and leadership. Board members should also show their commitment to the SACCO by adhering to the policies, contributing to the success of the institution and speaking with one voice. Poor members appear to primarily value financial services of the SACCO as a tool for building up basic assets and coping with risk and crises. Access to finance as provided by the SACCO, both savings and credit, helps to provide the lump sums required to invest in basic household assets such as land, housing, health and education. Assets which can be drawn from the SACCO upon times of crisis serve as a form of protection against risk. This may include physical assets (land, housing, and equipment), financial assets (savings), human assets (education) and social assets (friends, neighbors, networks, relationships). People also protect against risk by diversifying their income savings into various products availed).