Throughout the Lake region, thousands of micro traders and subsistence farmers operate on the margins of the formal economy.  Many of them are members of formal and informal community savings and credit groups including savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOs) and “table banking” groups.

Table banking is a well-tested microfinance methodology that has worked well in other parts of Kenya.   Under this methodology, members   of a group meet monthly to save in a common kitty, and those funds are immediately lent out to the members who desire to borrow.

In collaboration with the county government’s social services units, Ohala Kenya is building a dynamic database of these microeconomic groups across the region. Our goal is to develop a regional mechanism to provide a capacity building and financial support to thousands of rural and urban micro entrepreneurs – particularly women.