- The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) announces the licensing of an additional 29 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 281 following the licensing of 25 DCPs announced in July 2026.
CBK has received more than 900 applications since March 2022 and has worked closely with the applicants in reviewing their applications.
The focus of the engagements with the DCPs has been inter alia 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 of August 2026, licensed DCPs had granted 9,596,509 loans valued at Ksh.165.1 billion. Details of the 29 licensed DCPs can be accessed here.
Other applicants are at different stages in the process, largely awaiting the submission of requisite documentation.The CBK urges applicants to submit the pending documentation expeditiously to enable completion of the review of their applications.
Reports by the public on unregulated DCPs can be sent through dcps@centralbank.go.ke.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.
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Paul Arithi 
