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The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has approved 42 more Digital Credit Providers (DCPs), increasing the number of licensed and regulated digital lenders in the country to 195.
This latest approval follows the licensing of 27 DCPs announced in September 2025, underscoring the regulator’s ongoing drive to bring order to Kenya’s fast-expanding digital lending industry.
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CBK said the licensing initiative is aimed at addressing widespread concerns over exploitative practices by unregulated lenders, such as excessive interest rates, unethical debt recovery tactics, and the improper use of customers’ personal data.
Since March 2022, the regulator has received more than 800 applications, all of which undergo rigorous scrutiny focusing on the sustainability of business models, consumer protection safeguards, and the suitability of shareholders, directors, and senior management.
In a statement, CBK noted that its engagements with DCPs prioritize compliance with legal requirements and the protection of consumers’ interests.
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Most licensed DCPs operate fully online, including through USSD platforms, and offer a range of products such as education and development loans, short-term personal credit, asset financing, and business loans.
By November 2025, licensed digital lenders had disbursed 6.6 million loans worth a combined KSh 109.8 billion.
CBK added that other applicants are still at various stages of the approval process, mainly pending submission of required documents, and urged members of the public to report any unlicensed digital lenders through official channels to help curb abusive practices.
