Paul Arithi 
- Licensing of Digital Credit Providers by CBK;
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) announces the licensing of an additional 27 Digital Credit Providers (DCPs).This is pursuant to Section 59(2) of the Central Bank of Kenya Act (CBK Act).
This brings the number of licensed DCPs to 153 following the licensing of 41 DCPs announced in June 2025.
CBK has received more than 700 applications since March 2022 and has worked closely with the applicants in reviewing their applications.
The focus of the engagements with DCPs has been inter alia on business models, consumer protection and fitness and propriety of
proposed shareholders, directors, and management.
This is to ensure adherence to the relevant laws and importantly that the interests of customers are safeguarded. We acknowledge the efforts of the applicants and the support of other regulators and agencies in this process.
DCPs predominantly carry out their lending activities digitally including through Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) codes. Loan products include education loans, development loans, short-term personal loans, asset-financing and business loans.
As at June 2025, licensed DCPs had granted 5.5 million loans valued at Ksh.76.8 billion. Details of the 27 licensed DCPs can be accessed here. Other applicants are at different stages in the process, largely awaiting the submission of requisite documentation.
We urge these applicants to submit the pending documentation expeditiously to enable completion of the review of their applications.
The licensing and oversight of DCPs as indicated previously, was precipitated by concerns raised by the public about the predatory practices of the unregulated DCPs, and in particular, their high cost, unethical debt collection practices, and the abuse of personal information.
Reports by the public on unregulated DCPs can be sent through dcps@centralbank.go.ke.
