The CDN-CASH GROUPS programme is an initiative that was started by Rt. Rev. Bishop Joseph Mbatia in 2015 as a way to eradicate poverty in Catholic Diocese of Nyahururu. The main activities in the cash groups are savings and loaning to members professing Catholic faith.

Mobilization and recruitment of new members is done through Parishes at the local churches level, where groups are trained on the operations of Caritas Nyahururu Self Help Program. The project aims at improving livelihood of the community members by saving and issuing loans at a low and affordable interest rate on loan amount.

PURPOSE

· To increase membership in the community.

· To safeguard groups resources.

· To entrench a saving culture in the community.

· To invest prudently and share the surplus.

· To offer credit to the members at an affordable rate.

GOAL

Improve financial services access for marginalized/vulnerable groups to promote self-sufficiency and access to money.

ACHIEVEMENTS

i. Through the implementation of this program, we have increased the coverage to 68% of the total Parishes in the Diocese.

ii. The Diocese has economically enabled Christians that have learned the savings culture and are accessing loans at affordable terms in the Parishes covered.

iii. All the 68% covered Parishes have embraced the use of a paybill, which allows direct transfers to the accounts when saving, hence improved accountability of group resources.

iv. The project has piloted in one Parish the online cash transfer and completely terminated cash transactions when loaning.