Chama / Group savings optimizer
Simulate merry-go-round rotation payouts and welfare fund, or model what your group achieves by investing together.
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11.4M
Kenyans participate in chamas, making group finance one of the largest informal financial networks in Africa.
FSD Kenya FinAccess 2024
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KSh 700B+
estimated value of assets held by registered chamas and investment clubs in Kenya — peer accountability turns small contributions into real wealth.
CBK Financial Stability Report 2024
Common sizes:
Quick fill:
Monthly pool (12 × Ksh 2,000)
Ksh 24,000
Your rotation payout (when it's your turn)
Ksh 22,800
After the 5% welfare buffer — paid in full, one month per cycle.
Cycle length
12 months
Each member gets one turn
Group welfare fund per cycle
Ksh 14,400
Accumulated from monthly buffer
How the math works
First receiver (month 1): pays Ksh 2,000 once, receives Ksh 22,800 — net -Ksh 1,200 (essentially an interest-free loan from the group).
Last receiver (month 12): pays Ksh 24,000 total across the cycle, receives Ksh 22,800 — net -Ksh 1,200 (they effectively funded everyone else's rotation).
The fairness mechanism: everyone gets to be “first” in future cycles, and group savings discipline is the real return.
Where to invest your chama savings
Direct links to CMA- or CBK-regulated Kenyan products — no commission currently. Yields are approximate and change weekly.
Rates current as of July 2026.
Sources: PAYE bands — KRA Finance Act 2025/26 · NSSF — NSSF Act 2013 (Year 4, 2026) · SHIF — Social Health Insurance Act, 2024 · Housing Levy — Affordable Housing Act, 2024.
Chama governance, rotation order, and emergency fund rules vary by group constitution.
Investment returns shown are estimates using a constant compounding rate — actual group MMF or SACCO returns fluctuate.
For guidance only. Verify against your payslip and check your exact figures at itax.kra.go.ke.