The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has licensed 29 additional digital credit providers, bringing the total number of licensed digital lenders in the country to 281.
The latest licensing follows the approval of 25 digital credit providers announced in July 2026 and comes as CBK continues to strengthen oversight of the digital lending sector.
The regulator said it has received more than 900 applications since March 2022. The applications are subjected to scrutiny covering the applicants’ business models, consumer protection measures and the fitness and propriety of shareholders, directors and management, with the aim of safeguarding the interests of customers.
The 29 firms licensed on September 28, 2026 are Alba Capital Limited, Anchorstone Capital Limited, Boya Capital Limited, Cars and Cargo Capital Limited, CIM Credit Kenya Limited, Coffers Credit Limited and Credix Digital Credit.
Others are Provider Limited, Credora Digital Limited, Demulla Investments Limited, Diversity Micro Credit Limited, Goalbridge Capital Limited, Horpazi Credit Limited, Investbox Holdings Ltd and Jukiwa Credit Limited.
Others include Meridian Kapital DCP Ltd, Moneysta Capital Investment Ltd, Pocket Dealers Limited, Remy Capital Limited, Ridgeways Credit Limited, Rooted Digital Credit Provider Limited and Saidika Credit Limited.
Standthrive Solutions Limited, Symos Credit Limited, TGL Credit Limited, Tottengram Credit Ltd, Town Credit Ltd, Vankizah Credit Limited, Xpress Capital Solutions Limited and Zaidavu Credit Limited have also been licensed.
The CBK directory, updated on September 29, 2026, provides the names, postal and physical addresses, telephone contacts, email addresses and licensing dates of the regulated digital credit providers. Entries for the newly licensed firms confirm September 28, 2026 as their licensing date.
Digital credit providers predominantly offer loans through digital platforms, including USSD, with products ranging from education and development loans to short-term personal loans, asset financing and business loans.
As of August 2026, licensed digital credit providers had issued 9,596,509 loans valued at Sh165.1 billion, highlighting the growing role of digital lending in Kenya's credit market.
CBK said the licensing and supervision of digital credit providers was driven in part by public concerns over the practices of unregulated lenders.
The concerns include high costs of credit, unethical debt collection practices and the abuse of customers’ personal information.
The regulator said other applicants remain at different stages of the licensing process, with most awaiting submission of required documentation before their applications can be concluded.
