Today, Jamii Bora has sixty-one (61) branches serving about 170,000 members.

Here are some unique features of Jamii Bora, as a microfinance entity:

• In Jamii Bora, there are no clients or customers – all are called members;

• The poor street mothers are the most important recruiters of new members. They also remain as the core members of the organization;

• Members can borrow twice as much as they have saved and in case of death, the health benefits program of the organization provides the next of kin twice the savings of the member who die;

• The staff of the organization all come from families who are already members of the organization;

• One of the basic beliefs of the organization is that it is possible to eradicate poverty and that all its members can change their lives and get out of poverty once they realize that it is possible for them to get out of poverty;

• To be a member of Jamii Bora, one must open a savings account with the organization, but there is no minimum savings required. The initial membership fee is 200 KES (100 KES for registration fee; 50 KES for the card and 50 KES for the disaster insurance). The members have to shell out a monthly fee of 10 KES to continue the disaster insurance. If a disaster occurs and hits the business, the member can be allowed to take a loan even if he/she does not have any savings by the time the disaster occurs. A member can receive a maximum of 15,000 KES from the disaster insurance as compensation for losses and can immediately take a new loan to get back on their feet;

• In an internet report dated July 16, 2009 submitted by Danielle Dumm, he said: “Armed with hand-held POS (Point of Service) devices, Jamii Bora’s staff can connect clients to services at branch locations and in the field. Each member of Jamii Bora is issued an identity card embedded with a biometric reading of their fingerprint. To deposit or withdraw funds, Jamii Bora staff simply swipe the biometric card on the POS, open the member’s account and record the transaction. To confirm and authorize the transaction, the Jamii Bora member must press their thumb to the POS machine and a receipt is printed for the member’s records. All POS transactions are logged by a central server and reconciliation takes place at the close of each and every business day.

This system is more high-tech than that of many commercial banks around the world, and yet, it is brilliantly simple and perfectly suited to the needs of Jamii Bora and its members. There is no need to remember pin numbers or be fully literate. The POS model also allows for real-time transaction processing and overall cost-savings, both of which are pivotal to the organization achieving financial sustainability and growth.

The organization’s high-tech approach to microfinance is only one part of the Jamii Bora story. As even the most “techy” of us realized in our visit, the power of technology pales in comparison to the power of dedication and compassion that we saw in Jamii Bora’s staff and members.”

Finally, in another internet report, it is announced that “City Finance Bank (CFB) has officially acquired Jamii Bora Kenya Ltd, the country’s fastest growing microfinance institution. In a Gazette Notice No.2441 dated March 3, Central Bank of Kenya governor Njuguna Ndung’u said the acquisition deal was concluded last month after it received an approval from the Treasury.”

Have a joyful day!