CBK benchmark rate,CBK interest rates,cbk lending rates kenya Stories

CBK revises credit pricing model, adopts new benchmark rate for loan pricing
Lucy Mumbi  |  Aug 26, 2025

CBK said starting September 1, 2025, all new variable rate loans will be priced under the new framework, while existing variable rate loans will shift...

Tourism and agriculture leading in hiring as other sectors stumble
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Aug 26, 2025

Data from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) shows that these two sectors are the most confident about expanding staff numbers in 2025 compared to last y...

Kindiki welcomes CBK lending rate cut, says economy on recovery path
Bashir Mbuthia  |  Aug 25, 2025

Kindiki said it showed that the country is beginning to overcome a decade of high interest rates that had weakened household incomes, slowed down priv...

Kenyan farmers abandon Hustler Fund for commercial and digital Loans, CBK survey shows
Lucy Mumbi  |  Aug 25, 2025

The survey, covering March to May 2025, found that 11 per cent of farmers who borrowed from the Hustler Fund and 13 per cent who relied on microfinanc...

Food prices expected to decline despite inflation rise, CBK survey reveals
Lucy Mumbi  |  Aug 25, 2025

The July 2025 CBK agriculture survey showed that while inflation rose slightly to 4.1 per cent in July compared to the same period last year, most far...

Kenya’s credit rating upgraded to ‘B’ as investor confidence grows
Alfred Onyango  |  Aug 23, 2025

The new rating comes with a stable outlook, indicating growing confidence in Kenya’s ability to meet its debt obligations amid better access to intern...

CBK begins real-time monitoring of customer financial transactions
Mary Wambui  |  Aug 23, 2025

Through the system, CBK will strengthen its ability to surveil the entire banking sector as transactions occur, covering RTGS, PesaLink, and mobile mo...

CBK to suspend real time payments for three days due to system upgrade
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Aug 21, 2025

This means that businesses, suppliers, contractors and individuals who do not process their payments before the set deadline will have to wait until M...

Job prospects dim despite business optimism, CBK survey shows
Alfred Onyango  |  Aug 20, 2025

The latest Central Bank of Kenya's (CBK) CEO Survey shows expectations are high for growth across most business activity indicators in the third quart...

Loan defaults surged to 17 per cent in 2024 due to tough business climate - CBK
Alfred Onyango  |  Aug 13, 2025

In the period under review, gross loans issued by banks decreased by 2.7 per cent to Sh4.07 trillion from Sh4.18 trillion in 2023.

CBK cuts lending rate to 9.5 per cent in seventh straight easing move
Alfred Onyango  |  Aug 13, 2025

This marks the seventh consecutive rate cut from the historic peak of 13.0 per cent, as the regulator reaffirms its commitment to boosting economic ac...

Kenya’s mobile money agents drop by 4.8 per cent as customers go fully digital
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Aug 13, 2025

This trend comes as more customers shift to fully digital solutions, including app-based payments and automated kiosks, which perform many functions t...

Kenyan shilling holds steady at 129 against the dollar for a year
Alfred Onyango  |  Aug 09, 2025

The local currency began its recovery in early February last year, after plummeting to a historic low of 160 against the greenback.

Kenyan banks tighten oversight of third-party tech firms amid rising cyber threats
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Aug 08, 2025

Financial institutions are updating their contracts and improving monitoring systems to protect themselves from growing risks related to external serv...

CBK targets rogue lenders with new draft regulations, seeks public feedback
Rachael Mutabasi  |  Aug 07, 2025

The proposed rules address key areas such as transparency in loan agreements, responsible use of customer data, effective complaint resolution, and fa...

Borrowers exposed to costly loans despite banks cutting interest rates by one per cent
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Aug 07, 2025

According to data published by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), the average overall lending rate across 38 commercial banks dropped slightly to 15.78...

President William Ruto defends Hustler Fund, says KHRC report politically motivated
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Aug 06, 2025

President William Ruto criticised those questioning the fund’s impact, accusing them of misrepresenting facts and failing to understand the economic c...

CBK moves to revise 2017 cyber rules as fraudsters exploit new technology
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Jul 31, 2025

This move comes amid rising concerns over the use of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and the surge in mobile money fraud, which have exposed...

CBK rolls out reforms to stop counties from diverting billions in funds meant for suppliers
Lucy Mumbi  |  Jul 28, 2025

CBK Governor Dr Kamau Thugge said the reforms will curb this form of abuse by tying approved requisitions to actual payments, thereby blocking discret...

Kenya’s financial outlook steady amid strong Treasury bill demand and stable shilling - CBK
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Jul 26, 2025

Foreign exchange reserves were reported at $10,749 million (Sh1.39 trillion), equivalent to 4.7 months of import cover.

CBK set to monitor county transactions in real time to curb corruption
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Jul 26, 2025

The GDI platform will enhance oversight of public funds by giving CBK the ability to proactively monitor county account balances and transactions on s...

CBK admits it lacks authority to shut illegal county bank accounts
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Jul 25, 2025

This loophole has led to a sharp increase in county accounts at commercial banks. A recent report by Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakango revealed t...

Parliament to vet Pius Angasa for CBK board appointment after Ruto's nomination
Rachael Mutabasi  |  Jul 24, 2025

Wetang’ula directed that the nomination, along with Angasa’s CV and supporting documents, be submitted to the National Assembly Departmental Committee...

Counties under pressure as Treasury moves to curb misuse of funds with new single account system
Lucy Mumbi  |  Jul 18, 2025

While county leaders have raised concerns over losing financial independence, senators proposed a hybrid system, where the Treasury can monitor balanc...

Tax relief boost as KRA slashes fringe benefits rate for workers
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Jul 11, 2025

Fringe benefits tax applies to employees, directors, or their relatives who receive welfare perks such as low-interest loans from their employers. The...

Banks pocket Sh13 billion more from MSMEs driven by higher interest rates – CBK
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Jul 08, 2025

The data shows that interest income from MSME loans increased from Sh79.1 billion in 2022 to Sh91.8 billion in 2024, marking a 16 per cent jump.

Central Bank of Kenya invites Kenyans to review total cost of credit website
Bashir Mbuthia  |  Jul 07, 2025

The survey, which runs until July 15, 2025, seeks input from customers of commercial banks, mortgage finance institutions, microfinance banks and the...

CBK: Gaps in digital lending sector fuel risk of money laundering, terror financing
Lucy Mumbi  |  Jul 07, 2025

While 71 per cent of digital lenders screen their customers against global sanctions lists and 62.7 per cent offer some form of staff training, only 4...

Kenyan shilling rallies against major world currencies
Alfred Onyango  |  Jul 05, 2025

An analysis of data from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) shows the Kenyan shilling closed the first quarter of 2025 with a 14 per cent year-on-year ga...

Loan interest rates drop as CBK moves to scrap risk-based pricing
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Jul 02, 2025

The move follows a series of benchmark rate cuts by CBK over the past year and a half, including the latest reduction in June, which brought the Centr...

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