Central Bank of Kenya. Photo | courtesy.
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) approved licenses for 27 more Digital Credit Providers (DCPs), bringing the total number of licensed lenders to 153.
In a statement released on Thursday, CBK noted that this development follows the licensing of 41 DCPs in June 2025, just three months ago.
The regulator revealed that since March 2022, it has received over 700 applications and continues to engage applicants on key issues, including business models, consumer protection measures and the credibility of proposed shareholders, directors and management teams.
“As of June 2025, licensed Digital Credit Providers had disbursed 5.5 million loans worth Sh76.8 billion. Several other applications remain under review, with most pending submission of required documentation,” CBK said.
ALSO READ: Big Relief for Fintechs as Court Scraps VAT Charges
The regulator emphasized that its engagements aim to ensure full compliance with the law and protection of customer interests, pointing to past issues such as predatory lending practices, unethical debt collection methods and misuse of personal data by unregulated entities.
CBK added that DCPs primarily offer loans digitally via USSD platforms, with products ranging from education and development loans to short term personal loans, asset financing and business financing.
Digital Lenders licensed on September include:
- Abito Limited
- Ajax credit Kenya Limited
- Aspire Lending Limited
- Bosrich Credit Limited
- Brisk Credit Limited
- Easy Asset management Limited
- Easyways Credit Limited
- Elevate Credit Limited
- Finseil Limited
- Futureinno Digital Tech Limited
- Hanis Capital Limited
- Lasiri Capital Limited
- Leaf Credit Limited
- Little Limited Trading as Spotlt
- Mayflower Capital Limited
- Mednow Capital Limited
- Moto Hope Capital Limited
- Mwananchi Credit Limited
- Mular Credit Limited
- Musoni Capital Limited
- Otas Credit Limited
- Pembeni Cash Limited
- Reazilla DCP Limited
- Suffice Limited
- Unindirect Limited
- Zaidi Pato Limited
The approval of more DCPs is likely to expand financial inclusion to unbanked Kenyans. CBK also noted that more DCPs are in different stages of approval which signal that more digital lenders will enter the market.
These developments will enable more Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to access credit since most of them have often been denied credit by commercial banks.
