The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has licensed an additional 25 Digital Credit Providers (DCPs), raising the total number of regulated digital lenders in the country to 252. The move follows the licensing of 32 DCPs in April this year and forms part of the regulator’s ongoing push to bring order to Kenya’s fast-growing digital lending sector.
CBK said the latest approvals were confirmed on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, under Section 59(2) of the Central Bank of Kenya Act. The bank noted it has received more than 800 applications since the licensing framework for digital lenders took effect in March 2022, with review focused on applicants’ business models, consumer protection measures, and the suitability of proposed shareholders, directors and management teams.
“This is to ensure adherence to the relevant laws and, importantly, that the interests of customers are safeguarded,” CBK said in a statement.
Among the 25 newly approved lenders are Baraka Credit Limited, Bashy African Credit Limited, Centenary Micro Enterprise Services, Equal Reach Credit Limited, Eversure Credit Limited, Glad Agritech Kenya Limited, Hawkins Credit Limited, Jiweze Credit Limited, KalTris Limited, KN Global Services Limited, Lin-Cap Limited, Nirvana Credit Limited, Onward Digital Company Limited, Pesakay Credit Limited, Rapidcash Ventures Limited, Rukisha Solutions Limited, Signature Capital Limited, Solvezy Technology Kenya Limited, Statim Capital Limited, Stemtide Credit Limited, Stepwise Credit Limited, Transventures Capital Limited, Trinmarc Ventures Limited, VisionFund Kenya Limited and WeLend Limited.
These providers offer loans through digital platforms, including mobile applications and USSD channels, with products ranging from education loans and development financing to short-term personal loans, asset financing and business loans.
As of May 2026, licensed DCPs had issued 8.37 million loans valued at Sh150.56 billion, underscoring the growing role digital lenders now play in expanding access to credit for millions of Kenyans.
CBK said its push to regulate the sector was driven by longstanding concerns over practices by unregulated digital lenders, including high borrowing costs, unethical debt collection methods and misuse of customers’ personal data. Other applicants remain at different stages of the review process, and CBK has urged them to submit any pending documentation to facilitate completion of their applications.
The regulator also encouraged members of the public to report unregulated digital credit providers through its dedicated email address, [email protected], and pointed Kenyans to its updated Directory of Digital Credit Providers, last revised on July 9, as a tool for verifying whether a lender is properly licensed.
