CBK Licenses 42 More Digital Credit Providers

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has licensed an additional 42 Digital Credit Providers (DCPs), raising the total number of licensed lenders in the country to 195.

In a press statement released on Monday, December 30, CBK said the new licenses were issued under Section 59(2) of the Central Bank of Kenya Act. The regulator confirmed that the names of the newly licensed providers have been published on its official website.

The latest approvals follow the licensing of 27 DCPs in September 2025 and another 41 in June 2025.

Digital Credit Providers are institutions that offer loans through digital platforms such as mobile apps, websites, and USSD. Their products include education loans, development loans, short-term personal loans, asset financing, and business loans.

CBK said that as of November 2025, licensed digital lenders had issued more than 6.6 million loans worth KSh109.8 billion.

The regulator also revealed that it has received over 800 applications from digital lenders since March 2022 and continues to review them. Some applicants are still at different stages of evaluation, and CBK has urged them to submit all required documents quickly to complete the process.

CBK began regulating digital credit providers in 2022 to improve consumer protection and promote transparency in the lending sector. As part of the licensing process, DCPs must meet strict requirements.

Licensed lenders are required to protect customer data, clearly disclose loan costs, follow fair debt collection practices, comply with credit listing rules, and observe anti-money laundering laws. They must also prove the source of their funds to ensure they are not linked to criminal activities.

CBK warned that digital lenders are prohibited from using unethical recovery methods or listing borrowers with credit reference bureaus unfairly. The regulator emphasized that all licensed DCPs must operate ethically and fully comply with consumer protection standards.