10 of the most ridiculous requirements to join a kenyan women 'chama'

Kenyans love chamas. Women especially. Actually, chamas or small time investment groups, most of which began as 'merry-go-round' outfits have helped people to save, buy land, plots for building their homes and some chamas have become listed firms at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. Like Transcentury.

Joining chamas was always easy in the past. You were introduced by a member, paid admission fee and with monthly dues settled in time the chama was game. But things have changed. Really changed. Some chamas have rules akin to secret societies, while others read like intrusive manuals into a member's private life.

The Nairobian spoke to some who left, are planning to leave and have decided not to join some chamas for absurdities that beat common logic.

1. Your hubby's passport please?

You will be asked for current photos of your spouse while applying for immigration at the embassy or while applying for medical cover at the work place. But Edith Mwongeli, a media practitioner, was shocked recently when a chama she wanted to join demanded that all members bring passports of their husbands.

"They wanted to see all the photos of our partners to avoid sharing. It left me wondering about the level of insecurity and promiscuity in the group," Edith told The Nairobian, adding she was forced not to join the chama after two months of too much drama from the administrators.

 But there are chama members who have no qualms with such rules including photos of spouses. Take Selly Nderu, a banker, who says, "I once dated a guy who was getting married to one of our chama members. I only found out a weekend to the wedding having contributed and helped plan their wedding. I was so heartbroken that I left the chama." 

2. You own a Subaru or 'Shoe-baru'?

Phyllis Anyango a customer relations executive in a city hotel is yet to understand why her driving license was important to members of the chama a  colleague had recommended. 

"I went for the first meeting and apart from my identity card they also wanted to see my driving license. They did not give a clear explanation but I could tell it was all about class and status," said Phyllis,who at the time, only owned a 'Shoe-baru,' was locked out of the group.

3. We need a 'goodwill' In the past, when a new member wants to join a chama they have to wait until the last member has received their money so that they can start off afresh. However, times have changed and new members are in some cases required to pay a registration fee running into absurd amounts.

Eline Cheptoo a lawyer, was shocked when she was asked to pay sh 10,000 to join a neighbourhood chama. "This was besides money I had to top up to match up the rest of the members savings. In total I was supposed to give sh 110,000. they were not willing to let me pay in installments claiming that such habits would promote less commitment I the chama," Eline recalled. But she's  not the only one who wet through absurd cash requirements as Sylvia Wagithi was told that she would loose 30 percent of her investments if  she left the chama.

4. You bank account should read like a novel

Some chamas demand to know whether a member will be the laggard and demand for bank statements.

Anita Wariara, a civil servant, was turned away from a chama as members felt her payslip did not 'add up'  to their requirements. "It is true that most of my money was tied up to loans and Sacco contributions but that does not necessarily mean that I could not afford to contribute the required Sh10,000 per month since I had other sources of income that were not included in the bank statements," Anita defended her self.

5. Get a passport, mara moja While its normal for chamas to ask for photocopies of ID cards, some now demand passports. 

"In our chama 10 percent of the money is saved for holidays and 20 percent for emergencies as we invest the rest," Eva Mwandimu told the Nairobian while justifying why her chama demands for passports.

Eva claims that they travel out of the country every year and this is possible since they contribute Sh50,000 as monthly contribution. Most of the members are business ladies, corporate bosses and upcoming politicians.

6. We need clearance from 'intelligence'

In effort to scare away con artists, some chamas make do with police background searches for new    members.

Triza Makena was shocked when a chama she had been invited by a friend demanded an application letter and a certificate of good conduct. "This did not mean that I was not an automatic license to being accepted in the chama. They still had to vet me for a month and dig abit on my background."  Triza did not join the chama. She was too busy to get the certificate of good conduct.

7. Bring your marriage certificate While some chamas demand spouse's photos others insist that members wear their wedding rings.  Stacey Vivir, who is yet to say 'I do' could not qualify and neither was she interested anyway. "It was absurd, all those women ever did was talk about their husbands. Mostly gossip and castigate them. It was too much negativity," she said.

Wonje Mdavie, a single mother, on the other hand, was asked to present a copy of her marriage certificate. "They wanted it so that in case I took a loan they would follow up with my husband. Which husband?" she wondered.

8. You must kesha with us Believe it or not, the church you attend might be a determining factor as to whether you are welcome to some chamas.

Note, its church, not religion. Maurine Ouko was asked to start attending a certain church which is popular with the youth. 'They said that they meet every Sunday after church. I told them that I could still join them after mass since I'm Catholic but they refused claiming that it would be disrespectful to their pastor. It did not make sense at all," a disappointed Maureen told The Nairobian.

9. Come when you turn 30

If birthday candles are yet to burn your eyebrows then some chamas might knock you out on account of age.  Sandra Maritim was denied membership to invest her money in a chama because, at 25, she was  young and inexperienced. 'Most of my colleagues were over 30 and felt that I was still too young to be able to invest Sh10,000 a month. They told me to have fun ad invest when the time was right. I though people are supposed to invest when they are young?" 

10. Sorry, no members from Muchatha, Banana! You might have to move from your concrete suburb to be accommodated in some chamas.

Saida Abdalla and her husband bought a house in Utawala and moved out of their rented apartment along Kirichwa road in Kilimani, effectively losing membership of the chama she was in.

"They gave me all my money back and I was quite shocked since it wasn't even a merry go round that required us to visit each other. I think they were just jealous that I had a home of my own and they were still stuck paying rent," Saida told The Nairobian.