CBK licenses 27 more digital lenders in bid to boost consumer protection
The licensing brings the total number of regulated digital credit providers (DCPs) to 153, following the approval of 41 additional providers in June 2025.
A total of 27 new digital credit providers have been officially licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) in a move aimed at enhancing regulation and consumer protection in the growing digital lending sector.
The licensing brings the total number of regulated digital credit providers (DCPs) to 153, following the approval of 41 additional providers in June 2025.
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CBK said the move is in line with Section 59(2) of the Central Bank of Kenya Act (CBK Act).
Among those licensed are Abito Limited, Ajax Credit Kenya Limited, Aspire Lending Ltd, Bossrich Credit Limited, Brisk Credit Limited, Easy Asset Management Limited, Easyways Credit Limited, Elevate Credit Limited, Finseil Limited and Futureinno Digital Tech Limited.
The Bank also noted that it has received more than 700 applications since March 2022 and has worked closely with applicants to review their submissions.
“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,” CBK said in a statement on Thursday.
It also acknowledged “the efforts of the applicants and the support of other regulators and agencies in this process.”
Digital credit providers predominantly carry out lending 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 June 2025, CBK reported that licensed DCPs had granted 5.5 million loans, valued at Sh76.8 billion.
The Bank further announced that details of the 27 newly licensed DCPs are available publicly, while other applicants remain at various stages of the approval process, largely awaiting submission of the requisite documentation.
Applicants have been urged to submit pending documents promptly to enable completion of their reviews.
The central bank also urged the public to report unregulated DCPs via [email protected].
CBK noted that the licensing and oversight of DCPs “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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