Information Communication Technology Adoption and Performance of Deposit Taking Savings and Credit Co-Operative Societies in Kiambu County, Kenya

Information communication Technology (ICT) has been used by organizations to transform their internal processes, data processing and services delivery to consumers. The Savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOs) regulator require them to implement robust ICT platforms as part of the prudential standards it has set. Though there is an observable adoption of ICT by deposit taking SACCOs to provide services to members, there are concerns of how the SACCOS has adopted ICT, similarly there is a noted diminishing rate of growth in assets, loans and total deposits. The general objective of this study was to determine the effect of information communication technology adoption on SACCOs performance in Kiambu County, Kenya. The specific objectives was to determine; the usage of mobile banking on SACCOs? performance in Kiambu County, Kenya, the effect of agency banking on performance of SACCOs in Kiambu County, Kenya, the usage of Automated Teller Machine on performance of SACCOs and to assess SACCOs? data security policies and controls. Technology acceptance Model, Resource based view theory and Diffusion of innovation theories was used in the study. The study used descriptive design on a population of 14 deposit taking SACCOs licensed and operating in Kiambu,Kenya between year 2010 and 2017. The researcher used purposive sampling technique to pick 4 respondents ,who were the Branch Manager, ICT,Operations and Finance managers, per SACCO. The researcher used multiple regression analysis technique to analyze data while tables and graphs were used to present the researchers findings. The study found that the respondents considered mobile banking as a tool to enable members access services anywhere-anytime as awell as positively affecting SACCO incomes. It was further found that majority of the respondents felt safe as users while using Networks and internet services as well as affirming that Saccos used stored data to determine the member?s financial behavior. Similarly, it was affirmed by the respondents that agency banking positively affected commissions and overall income of the SACCOs. The study concluded that mobile banking has enabled the DT-Saccos to improve their performance by enabling services access through mobile. Additionally, the study concluded that agency banking positively enlarged the income generating channels as the DT Saccos do not need to have physical branches as they can deliver services through virtual operations. Lastly the study concluded that data security is important to business continuity in these Saccos. DT-Saccos can utilize data analytics to customize services and communication to their members. From the analysis, it was found that ICT adoption could explain 56.7 % of the positive variations in performance of DT SACCOS in Kiambu County, Kenya. This study therefore recommends that DT Saccos ought to deepen their investments in ICT innovations as the technology offer effective and efficient channels which in turn positively influence their overall performance. The Saccos further needs to frequently revamp their technological innovations to match market requirements; this should be coupled with training and sensitization to members on these developments.