communication, security of the people, property and tenure and promotion of spiritual well-being, gender sensitivity and good cultural practice. 

The association has 7,100 members, all of whom own shares with the minimum being one share. Each share is worth KES 300.

NCDA is focused on development, implementation and sustainability of relevant community owned Income Generating Activities (IGAs) with the aim of putting money in people’s pockets (Economic Empowerment). Dairy farming, bee keeping and agro forestry, fruit farming and Poultry keeping are some of the initial activities that are at different stages of implementation. School infrastructure development and improvement is also an initiative that we have been undertaking.

NCDA owns a Micro lending project (village bank) as an Income Generating Activity (IGA) that aims to strengthen the financial well-being of its members by giving them a viable institutional framework to mobilize financial resources for investing in other productive Income Generating Activities.

The association works with members to build their own financial capital base and create a sustainable mechanism through which they can take control of their economic development (People Empowering People).

In NCDA micro lending project, individuals form groups comprising a minimum of five and a maximum of nine members known as Kikundi Cha Mkopo (KCM). Three of these groups are then combined to form a Muungano. To become a member, one pays a minimum of KES 700. Members borrow up to four times the value of their shares. The loans are guaranteed by all the group members, depending on the size of the group. Loans attract interests of between 1.2% and 5% depending on their size. The least interest of 1.2% is paid on loans between Kes 400,000 and Kes 500,000. The longest loan repayment period is 36 months with loans being repaid monthly on a reducing balance basis.

NCDA is governed The Board of Management comprising of 14 Board members who are elected during annual general meeting. Nine of them represent a sub-location each and are elected by members from that sub-location for a renewable term of three years, three are co-opted members, the patron and the General manager representing the management.

The bank has 31 staff, eight of whom are in management. NCDA maintains a lean and mean staffing strategy, which has been crucial to its profitability. NCDA has achieved much in its 15 years of existence. It is the only ‘village bank’ of its kind in Ukambani and has grown and prospered despite all odds. Even Makueni County has shown interest in replicating its model. It has grown to 7,100 members over the last 15 years.

NCDA has a loan portfolio of Kes 94 million shillings and registered profits of Kes 12 million in 2022 despite the post covid-19 effects. The total asset base is currently Kes 142 million and its assets grow by an average of Kes 8 million per year. The shares command good returns of up to Ksh 40 per share annually.

NCDA has been able to acquire physical assets now worth Kes 35 million. It owns all of its 3 branch offices and an additional one acre of land in Ndithini. Despite its achievements and successes, NCDA had faced and continues to deal with several challenges.

NCDA is located in a community where a majority of the people are poor farmers. This affects the ability of community members to join NCDA and pay back their loans. The increasing incomes from penalties, while enhancing profits, have been a growing concern to the founders. They see it as a sign that people have been facing challenges in paying their loans, especially in the post-covid period. The unpredictability of the climate has affected farmers, therefore, increasing the difficulty in paying loans. There are community members who are unable to join groups as no one wants them. This may be because they are too poor.       

About future plans, NCDA intends to grow its customer base by developing the wealth of community members by initiating other Income Generating Activities that are all inclusive to boost the individual household income streams/economic standing.