TITLE: Central Bank of Kenya Licenses 32 Additional Digital Credit Providers
BODY:
On April 14, 2026, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) announced the licensing of 32 additional Digital Credit Providers (DCPs) pursuant to Section 59(2) of the Central Bank of Kenya Act. This brings the total number of licensed DCPs to 227, following the licensing of 42 DCPs announced in December 2025.
Since March 2022, the CBK has received more than 800 applications for DCP licensing. The regulatory review process has focused on assessing business models, consumer protection measures, and the fitness and propriety of proposed shareholders, directors, and management to ensure compliance with relevant laws and safeguard customer interests. DCPs predominantly conduct lending activities digitally, including through Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) codes, offering products such as education loans, development loans, short-term personal loans, asset-financing, and business loans. As of February 2026, licensed DCPs had granted 7.5 million loans valued at Kenyan Shilling 133.5 billion.
The CBK's licensing and oversight framework was established in response to public concerns about predatory practices by unregulated DCPs, including high costs, unethical debt collection practices, and abuse of personal information. The CBK urges remaining applicants awaiting licensing to submit pending documentation expeditiously to enable completion of application reviews. Members of the public can report unregulated DCPs to the CBK at dcps@centralbank.go.ke. A complete list of the 227 licensed DCPs is available on the CBK website.
REFERENCE:
Central Bank of Kenya Press Release: Licensing of Digital Credit Providers (April 14, 2026)