Q: What is Bidii Chama?

A: Bidii Chama is a comprehensive chama management solution that simplifies and streamlines the operations of chamas. It provides tools for contribution tracking, savings management, loan management, communication, and collaboration within a chama.

Q: How do I get started with Bidii Chama?

A: To get started with Bidii Chama, download the app from your device’s app store, follow the registration process, and either join an existing chama or create a new one.

Q: How does Bidii Chama work?

A: Bidii Chama works by providing chama members with a mobile app platform to manage their chama’s activities. It allows chama members to record contributions, track savings, manage loans, communicate with members, and generate reports for financial analysis.

Q: Is Bidii Chama available for both Android and iOS devices?

A: Yes, Bidii Chama is available for both Android and iOS devices. You can download the app from the respective app stores for your device and start managing your chama efficiently.

Q: What types of chamas does Bidii Chama support?

A: Bidii Chama is versatile and supports various types of chamas, including investment groups, savings clubs, cooperatives, and social clubs. It is designed to accommodate the unique needs and structures of different chama models.

Q: Is Bidii Chama suitable for small chamas, or is it more geared towards larger groups?

A: Bidii Chama is suitable for chamas of all sizes. Whether you’re a small investment club or a large cooperative, Bidii Chama provides features that can be tailored to meet the specific requirements of your chama.

Q: Can Bidii Chama be used for both registered and unregistered chamas?

A: Absolutely. Bidii Chama is designed to cater to both registered and unregistered chamas. It provides the flexibility needed for various organizational structures, allowing users to manage their chama activities efficiently.

Q: Can social clubs or non-financial groups benefit from using Bidii Chama?

A: Certainly. Bidii Chama is not limited to financial groups. Social clubs, hobby groups, and other non-financial organizations can use Bidii Chama for communication, event planning, and collaborative decision-making.

Q: Does Bidii Chama have subscription fees or registration costs?

A: NO, there are no subscription fees to get Bidii Chama. However, there are transactional charges applied when funds move out of their Bidii Chama wallets.

Q: Do I need to be a customer of Diamond Trust Bank to access Bidii Chama?

A: NO, the Bidii Chama app is open to all and is available for download from your device’s app store. You do not need to be a customer or have an account with Diamond Trust Bank to access the app.

Q: What information does an individual need to provide during the onboarding process?

A: An individual will typically need to provide their basic personal information, such as name, email address, phone number, and their identification details.

Q: How do I invite new members to a chama using Bidii Chama?

A: Inviting new members to a chama through Bidii Chama is easy. As a chama member, you can send invitations to new members through your saved phonebook contacts. They will receive an SMS with a link to the Bidii Chama application which they download the app and go through the registration process and join the chama.

Q: Can an already existing chama be onboarded onto Bidii Chama?

A: Absolutely! Bidii Chama can be used by both newly created and already existing chamas. If you already have an existing chama, you can onboard it onto Bidii Chama by following the onboarding process. Once this is complete, the chamas finances and previous operations can be transferred onto the created Bidii Chama group.

Q: Can new members access historical chama data or transactions after onboarding?

A: Yes, new members have access to historical chama data and transactions after onboarding. Chama officials can determine the level of access and permissions granted to new members based on their role and requirements.

Q: Is there a limit to the number of members that can be onboarded in Bidii Chama?

A: Bidii Chama can accommodate a wide range of chama sizes, from small groups to large organizations. There is typically no limit to the number of members you can onboard, making it suitable for chamas of varying sizes.

Q: Is there a limit to the number of chamas an individual can be a part of within Bidii Chama?

A: Bidii Chama allows members to be a part of multiple chamas simultaneously. There is typically no limit to the number of chamas a member can join, enabling individuals to participate in various chama groups as needed.

Q: How does an individual create and set up a chama on Bidii Chama?

A: To create a new Chama, log in to the app and follow the prompts to initiate the creation of a new Chama. You’ll need to provide some basic details about the Chama during the setup process.

Q: What information is required to create a Chama on Bidii Chama?

A: During Chama creation, you’ll typically need to provide information such as the Chama’s name, chama type, purpose, and details about the members. Additionally, you may set rules and preferences for Chama management based on the existing chama constitution agreed upon by the chama members. These include, setting up the contributions amount and cycle, chama loans parameters and disbursement and withdrawals parameters.

Q: Can I customize the rules and structure of my Chama?

A: Yes, Bidii Chama provides customization options. During Chama setup, you can define and customize rules, roles, and other parameters to tailor the Chama to the specific needs and preferences of your group as set out in the chama’s existing constitution.

Q: Is there an officials or administrator role in the Chama setup?

A: Yes, Bidii Chama allows you to designate a Chama officials or administrator during the setup process. The officials typically have additional permissions for managing Chama activities.

Q: How quickly can I set up and start using my Chama on Bidii Chama?

A: The setup process is designed to be quick and user-friendly. Once you’ve provided the necessary information and the same is verified, you can start using Bidii Chama for your Chama activities immediately.

Q: Does Bidii Chama support chamas with rotating officials or committee structures?

A: Yes, Bidii Chama is flexible and can accommodate chamas with rotating officials or committee structures. Chama officials can be designated, and roles can be adjusted based on the chama’s internal dynamics and their set chama constitution.

Q: What is the role of an approver in Bidii Chama?

A: Approvers in Bidii Chama are designated individuals responsible for reviewing and approving certain chama activities, such as loan disbursements, expense approvals, or significant financial transactions. They ensure that these activities align with the chama’s rules and guidelines.

Q: How are approvers designated in Bidii Chama?

A: Chama members can designate specific individuals as approvers within the Bidii Chama platform. These individuals are granted the authority to review and approve transactions or requests based on the chama’s approval workflows and policies.

Q: Can the approver role be assigned to multiple individuals?

A: Yes, Bidii Chama allows chama officials to assign the approver role to multiple individuals. This can be useful for distributed decision-making or in cases where multiple approvals are required for certain transactions.

Q: Can the approver role be revoked or changed?

A: Chama officials have the flexibility to revoke or change the approver role within Bidii Chama. They can modify the designated approvers based on changes in chama officials or requirements.

Q: How does the approver workflow function in Bidii Chama?

A: When a transaction or request is submitted for approval within Bidii Chama, it follows a predefined workflow that determines the sequence of approvers. Each approver in the workflow can review, comment, and approve or reject the transaction based on their designated role.

Q: Can approvers view the transaction details before making a decision?

A: Yes, approvers in Bidii Chama have access to the necessary transaction details, such as loan applications, expense requests, or significant financial transactions. They can review the relevant information before making their approval decision.

Q: What is a Chama Group Wallet in Bidii Chama?

A: The Chama Group Wallet in Bidii Chama is a collective financial space where chama members pool their contributions, savings, and funds. It serves as the central account for the entire chama.

Q: How do Chama Group Wallets work?

A: Chama members contribute funds to the Group Wallet, and the wallet is used for various chama activities such as savings, investments, and loan disbursements. Transactions within the Group Wallet are visible to all members for transparency.

Q: Can funds in the Chama Group Wallet be used for individual purposes?

A: Funds in the Chama Group Wallet are typically reserved for chama-related activities. However, some chamas may have specific rules allowing members to use a portion of the funds for individual purposes, depending on the chama’s agreement.

Q: How are transactions within the Chama Group Wallet recorded?

A: All transactions within the Chama Group Wallet are automatically recorded in real-time. Members can view detailed transaction histories, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Q: Can a Chama have multiple Group Wallets for different purposes?

A: Yes, Bidii Chama allows flexibility. Chamas can create multiple Group Wallets for different purposes such as savings, investments, and special projects, allowing for better financial management.

Q: How is access to the Chama Group Wallet controlled?

A: Access to the Chama Group Wallet is typically managed by chama leaders or those with designated administrative roles. Permissions can be set to control who can initiate transactions and approve withdrawals. However, all chama members still have visibility of the chama operations and finances.

Q: What is an Individual Members’ Wallet in Bidii Chama?

A: An Individual Members’ Wallet is a personal financial space within Bidii Chama where each member can manage their contributions, savings, and track personal transactions.

Q: Can members have more than one Individual Members’ Wallet?

A: Bidii Chama supports one Individual Members’ Wallet per member. It is designed to streamline personal financial activities within the chama.

Q: How can members contribute to their Individual Members’ Wallet?

A: Members can contribute to their Individual Members’ Wallet by initiating contributions through the app. The contributions are then recorded, and the total amount is visible within the member’s wallet.

Q: How are transactions within the Individual Members’ Wallet recorded?

A: Similar to the Group Wallet, transactions within the Individual Members’ Wallet are recorded in real-time. Members can view their transaction history to monitor their financial activities.

Q: Is the balance in the Individual Members’ Wallet visible to other chama members?

A: No, the balance in an Individual Members’ Wallet is typically private and is not visible to other chama members. Bidii Chama prioritizes individual privacy in personal financial matters.

Q: Can funds from the Individual Members’ Wallet be transferred to the Chama Group Wallet?

A: Yes, members can transfer funds from their Individual Members’ Wallet to the Chama Group Wallet contributions towards group activities.

Q: What types of transactions does the Bidii Chama wallets support?

A: Bidii Chama supports transactions made through mobile money transfers (Safaricom & Airtel) and bank transfers (Pesa link and RTGS). These are used to move funds into and out of the wallets with transactional charges applied when funds move out of their Bidii Chama wallets.

Q: Can Bidii Chama help our chama maintain accountability?

A: Absolutely! Bidii Chama enables accountability by recording and tracking all chama financial activities. Chama members can easily monitor contributions, savings, and loan repayments, ensuring that members fulfill their commitments. This helps maintain accountability within the chama.

Q: How does Bidii Chama promote transparency within our chama?

A: Bidii Chama promotes transparency by providing a centralized platform where chama members can track contributions, savings, and loan activities in real-time. It offers visibility into financial transactions, ensuring transparency among chama members and fostering trust.

Q: How can Bidii Chama help our chama with savings goals?

A: Bidii Chama offers savings tracking features that allow chama members to monitor their individual and group savings progress. It provides visualizations and reminders to help chama members stay on track with their savings goals and encourages a culture of financial discipline.

Q: Does Bidii Chama offer interest on funds saved within the app?

A: At the moment, there is no interest earned on the funds saved on Bidii Chama. However, this is a feature that we are working on and will soon be available.

Q: Can Bidii Chama handle loan management for our chama?

A: Absolutely! Bidii Chama includes loan management features that simplify the loan process. Chama members can apply for loans, and chama officials can review and approve them. The system calculates interest rates, tracks repayments, and sends reminders for efficient loan management.

Q: Does Bidii Chama provide audit trails for financial transactions?

A: Yes, Bidii Chama maintains a detailed audit trail of all financial transactions within the system. This includes information such as transaction dates, amounts, and user activities, providing a transparent record of chama financial operations.

Q: Can Bidii Chama generate financial statements for our chama?

A: Yes, Bidii Chama has robust reporting features. It generates financial reports that provide insights into contributions, savings, expenses, loans, and overall chama financial health. These reports can be used for analysis, decision-making, and record-keeping purposes.

Q: Can Bidii Chama assist in the process of registering our chama as a legal entity?

A: Bidii Chama can provide valuable assistance in the process of registering your chama as a legal entity. While Bidii Chama itself does not handle the registration process, it can help you organize and manage your chama’s financial activities, which can be crucial for demonstrating credibility and compliance during the registration process.

Q: How can Bidii Chama contribute to the credibility of our chama during the registration process?

A: Bidii Chama contributes to the credibility of your chama by maintaining accurate financial records and providing transparency in your chama’s financial operations. Having well-documented and organized financial information through Bidii Chama can help demonstrate the chama’s legitimacy and adherence to financial best practices.

Q: Can Bidii Chama provide financial reports and statements that can be used for chama registration purposes?

A: Yes, Bidii Chama can generate financial reports and statements that can be instrumental in the chama registration process. These reports provide an overview of your chama’s financial activities, contributions, savings, loans, and expenses, showcasing the financial health and stability of the chama.

Q: Can Bidii Chama help in maintaining compliance with financial regulations during the registration process?

A: Yes, Bidii Chama is designed to help chamas maintain compliance with financial regulations. By using Bidii Chama to manage your chama’s activities, you can ensure accurate record-keeping, transparent transactions, and adherence to financial best practices, all of which are essential for chama registration.

Q: How does Bidii Chama ensure data accuracy and integrity?

A: Bidii Chama implements robust data validation mechanisms to ensure data accuracy and integrity. The system performs validation checks on input data, preventing errors and inconsistencies. Regular reconciliations with bank statements further enhance data accuracy.

Q: Is Bidii Chama secure?

A: Yes, Bidii Chama prioritizes the security of your chama’s data. It implements industry-standard security measures, such as encryption and secure authentication, to protect sensitive information. Regular security audits are conducted to ensure data privacy and security.

Q: How does Bidii Chama prevent misuse of funds within the chama?

A: Bidii Chama promotes financial accountability by establishing clear processes for contributions, loan disbursements, and repayments. The system records and tracks all transactions, reducing the risk of fund misuse. Regular reporting and transparency help identify any discrepancies and address them promptly.

Q: How can we get support for Bidii Chama?

A: Bidii Chama offers dedicated customer support. You can reach out to our support team through the mobile app or by contacting our customer support channels (email [email protected] or phone +254 111 189 999) for assistance, guidance, and answers to any questions or concerns you may have.

Q: Are there any training resources available for new members during the onboarding process?

A: Yes, Bidii Chama provides training and support resources to help new members familiarize themselves with the app’s features and functionalities. These resources include user guides, video tutorials, and FAQs to assist new members in getting started.