CBK Licenses 32 More Digital Lenders in Kenya

In Short

Kenya’s Central Bank, CBK, has updated its register of licensed digital credit providers. CBK approved 32 new digital lenders, and said only firms on its list can legally offer digital loans.

What Happened

CBK published an updated list of licensed digital credit providers, often called DCPs. A DCP is a company that offers loans through an app, USSD, or the web, rather than a physical branch.

The April 2026 update adds 32 newly licensed firms. It follows an earlier batch of 42 approvals in December 2025, taking the total number of licensed digital lenders in Kenya to 227.

CBK also noted that some applicants are still under review. That signals the licensing pipeline is still open, but approvals depend on meeting the regulator’s requirements.

Alongside the update, CBK warned the public against borrowing from unlicensed lenders. It said any digital lender not on the official list is operating outside compliance.

Why It Matters

Kenya’s digital lending market has grown fast, and it has also attracted complaints. These include high interest rates, misuse of personal data, and aggressive debt collection.

CBK’s licensing regime is meant to improve consumer protection. In practice, it creates a clear line between regulated digital loan providers and illegal operators.

For founders and investors, the message is also about enforcement risk. If CBK continues to work with other authorities to shut down non-compliant apps, distribution and customer acquisition could get harder for lenders that are not fully licensed.

For borrowers, the update is a practical checklist. Before taking a loan, they can verify whether a provider is legally recognised by checking the CBK list.