Nairobi, June 29 -- Loans issued by savings and credit co-operative societies (saccos) to help households pay for medical expenses are now the fastest-growing credit segment for the sector, underscoring the growing burden of hospital bills.

Saccos issued medical loans worth Sh2.79 billion in the three months to March this year, being a 31 percent rise compared to Sh2.13 billion disbursed in a similar period in 2025, according to data from Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority (Sasra).

Medical loans offered by most saccos are designed to clear hospital bills, with the lenders stating they are processed within 24 hours of the borrower providing proforma invoices from the hospital.

The loans are repayable within 36 months at an interest ra...