Table Banking

Children of the Kingdom’s main program through the years has been to support students with school fees in their education from primary school through college. Children of the Kingdom also implemented a supplemental family support program many years ago to come alongside families who were struggling with food insecurity and whose daily income was below $1 a day.  Last year, the Kenyan staff and board sought guidance for the future of the family support program as they did not want to just be giving handouts but wanted to support and empower families in more sustainable ways.

One of our board members in Lodwar (Jane Apetet) works for an organization called Joyful Women (JOYWO) headed by the First Lady of Kenya which leads trainings all over the country on the benefits of table banking, teaching people to save and borrow money to support one another to become economically sustainable. She introduced this model to Children of the Kingdom in the past year. 

​Using our family support funds, Children of the Kingdom now has implemented two table banking groups with 54 members (5 men and 49 women) who meet monthly pooling their savings and then lending to one another based on agreed terms. They are finding this to be quite a successful model. Since September, the total for the savings from the groups is 225,160ksh (roughly $1720). At the end of the year, all members will qualify for dividends depending on the individual’s savings. 

Florence Ikai (pictured above) has a local fast food restaurant which is thriving in part due to the table banking program.

Above are some other beneficiaries of the Children of the Kingdom Table Banking program.

​Recently the table banking group pooled some funds to help a recent alumni buy some supplies to start his welding business, and they have demonstrated collective support and have given him their vote of confidence as he begins his business.

Why Table Banking?

• Accessibility: Table banking is often more accessible to individuals who may not have access to conventional banking services due to various reasons like location or limited financial resources. Most of our beneficiaries cannot access loans from banks or microfinance institutions because they lack the collateral to access such services.
• Community Support: It fosters a sense of community support and cooperation. Members trust each other and work together to achieve financial goals, promoting social cohesion.
• Flexible Loan Terms: Table banking allows for flexible loan terms that are often tailored to the needs of the members. This can include lower interest rates, customized repayment schedules, and smaller loan amounts. The members have agreed upon rules and regulation with guidance and support from the counseling team.
• Savings Culture: It encourages a savings culture among members, as they contribute regularly to the pool, which can be used for lending or emergencies. Each member is encouraged to save every month, and there are guidelines of how much they can borrow from the collective pool.
• Cost-Effective: Table banking can be cost-effective compared to formal banking institutions, as there are fewer administrative costs and overheads involved.
• Empowerment: It empowers individuals, especially women and marginalized groups, by providing access to financial services and opportunities for economic empowerment. 

Thank you for your support of this program!!