GDC Sacco CEO Charles Kioko (left) and chairman Mburu Gitau with AVLC CEO Andrew Kanyutu and MSMES chairman James Mureu during the signing of a letter of offer for Sh500 million funding from the World Bank to the Sacco at the Githunguri offices in Kiambu County on October 22, 2025. /TITUS MWANGI
A global consultancy firm, AVLC, has successfully secured Sh500 million from the World Bank to support Kenyan farmers and small business traders through a strategic partnership with Githunguri Dairy and Community (GDC) Sacco.
The funds, to be disbursed under the Safer Fund initiative, aim to strengthen financial inclusion and support rural economic growth. This, while accelerating post-pandemic recovery in the country’s agricultural and small business sectors.
The agreement was formalized Wednesday, October 22, 2025, through the signing of a letter of offer between AVLC and GDC, marking the culmination of over a year of collaboration between the two institutions.
GDC CEO Charles Kioko who spoke during the event, hailed the partnership as a milestone achievement that would bring affordable and accessible credit to the Sacco’s growing membership base.
“This is a journey we started last year, and today we celebrate a major milestone as we await the disbursement of the Sh500 million that will directly benefit our members,” Kioko said.
He said the Sacco will distribute the funds digitally, providing short-term loans ranging from one to six months. The approach, he noted, will make access to credit easier, faster, and more convenient for farmers and small entrepreneurs.
“Our goal is accessibility, affordability, and convenience,” he said. “By using mobile digital lending, we will ensure these funds reach farmers quickly and create measurable community impact.”
GDC Sacco CEO Charles Kioko (second left) exchange documents with AVLC CEO Andrew Kanyutu as Sacco chairman Mburu Gitau and MSMES chairman James Mureu look on during the signing of a letter of offer for Sh500 million funding from World Bank to the Sacco at the Githunguri offices in Kiambu County on October 22, 2025. /TITUS MWANGI
“Our approach is to work with structured, regulated institutions like GDC to connect them to global finance,” Kanyutu said.
“We walked the journey with GDC, guiding them step by step to ensure they presented their proposal in a way that appealed to lenders," he stated.
GDC Sacco, AVLC, and MSMES teams during the signing of a letter of offer for Sh500m funding from World Bank to the Sacco at the Githunguri offices in Kiambu County on October 22, 2025. /TITUS MWANGI
“The Sh500 million is just a start. We are looking at tapping more funding globally to expand impact and promote sustainable growth,” he said.
The World Bank’s Safer Fund was established to help MSMEs recover from the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic while strengthening business resilience.
For GDC, which serves over 38,000 members, the funding comes as a timely boost that will help farmers access affordable loans to purchase inputs, upgrade equipment, and expand agribusiness ventures.
Kioko said GDC would continue to assess the impact of the funding annually to ensure it achieves tangible change in members’ lives.
“This partnership with AVLC and the World Bank is about transforming livelihoods. It is about giving our farmers and small traders the means to grow, one digital loan at a time,” he said.
