How to price SACCO shares for a quick sale

Updated 26 September 2026

There is no official market price for SACCO shares; new shares are issued at par, so a seller usually has to offer a discount. This guide shows how to think about that discount and what buyers look at.

When you list SACCO shares for sale, the first question every buyer asks is "how much?" There is no stock exchange for SACCO shares and no official price. This guide explains how pricing works in practice so you can pick a number that sells.

Start from face value (par value)

Each SACCO sets a par value for its shares in its by-laws, and a minimum number of shares a member must hold (regulation 21(1) of the Deposit-Taking Sacco Business Regulations, 2010). Your statement shows your share capital at that face value. If your statement says share capital of KSh 30,000, that is the face value you are selling.

Why buyers expect a discount

SASRA's 2024 Supervision Report explains it directly: there is "no established mechanism for price determination or discovery of such shares since cooperative shares are unlimited and new ones will continue to be issued at the prescribed par value." In plain terms, anyone who qualifies can join the SACCO and buy new shares at face value from the SACCO itself. So a buyer has little reason to pay you more than face value, and usually wants a reason to buy from you instead of the SACCO. That reason is a lower price.

The discount is also compensation for the buyer's effort: meeting you, going to the SACCO, filling in forms and possibly paying a transfer fee.

What buyers look at

What the buyer checks	Why it matters to your price
The SACCO's dividend record	Share capital earns dividends only if the SACCO declares them. A SACCO with a steady record of paying dividends makes its shares more attractive. For context, SASRA reports that regulated SACCOs paid an average dividend on share capital of 10.46% for 2024, down from 10.92% for 2023. Individual SACCOs vary widely around that average.
Whether it is licensed or authorised by SASRA	Buyers are more cautious with SACCOs that are not on SASRA's list or are under restrictions.
What the shares do for them	If the buyer needs share capital to complete membership, your shares save them paying full face value to the SACCO. If shares do not affect their loan limit (many SACCOs set limits as a multiple of deposits), they are buying mainly for the dividend.
How big the block is	A small amount is easier to sell than a large one. Few individual buyers want KSh 500,000 of one SACCO's shares at once.
How easy the transfer will be	A seller with no loans and no guarantees, and who can come to the branch, is worth more to a buyer than one with complications.

A simple way to set your price

Look at what others are asking. Check current share listings for the same SACCO, and look at buy requests to see what buyers say they will pay.
Decide how fast you need the money. If you are in no hurry, start close to face value and lower it over a few weeks. If you need to sell this month, start with a larger discount.
Think in shillings, not only percentages. A 10% discount on KSh 20,000 is KSh 2,000. Ask yourself whether that discount is worth selling this week instead of waiting.
Set a floor. Decide the lowest price you will accept before you start talking to buyers, so you do not end up agreeing to an offer you regret.
Say who pays the transfer fee. Some SACCOs charge a small fee for a share transfer. Stating clearly who pays it avoids arguments at the counter.

Worked example

Wanjiru has KSh 40,000 of share capital (face value) in her SACCO and is leaving. She sees two other listings for the same SACCO. Buyers in the requests section want smaller amounts. She decides:

Asking price: KSh 36,000 (a 10% discount)
Floor: KSh 32,000 (a 20% discount)
Willing to split into two lots of KSh 20,000 face value if a single buyer cannot take all of it
Buyer pays the SACCO transfer fee

These figures are an illustration, not a recommendation. Your SACCO, the demand for its shares and your own timing decide the right number.

Things that should not change your price

Your deposits. Deposits are refunded to you by the SACCO when you exit; they are not part of the share sale.
Dividends already declared for past years. These are normally paid to the member who held the shares when they were declared. If your transfer falls close to the year-end or the AGM, confirm with your SACCO who will receive that year's dividend.
Loan limits. Shares cannot be pledged as security for a loan (regulation 21(2)), and in many SACCOs loan limits are based on deposits. Do not advertise your shares as coming with borrowing power unless your SACCO confirms it.

Write a listing that sells

Name the SACCO exactly as it is registered.
State the face value and your asking price separately.
Say whether you have cleared loans and guarantees.
Say which branch you can meet at and when.

When you are ready, list your shares. It is free, and there is no commission on the sale.

Sources

This guide is general information, not financial advice. SACCO rules differ, so confirm details with your SACCO.