CBK-licensed Digital Credit Providers in Kenya (2026)
Kenya has 281 CBK-authorised Digital Credit Providers detailed below, taken line by line from the Central Bank of Kenya Directory of Digital Credit Providers, updated 29 September 2026 (PDF linked at the bottom of every entry). That includes the 29 lenders CBK licensed on 28 September 2026.
Full directory
Type in the search box to filter. Every row links to the per-DCP page with the full contact block and license date.
Showing 281 of 281 licensed DCPs.
How to verify a lender is CBK-licensed
- Look them up on this page. Every entry is copied from the CBK PDF. We update within a week of any new directory.
- Cross-check against CBK directly. Download the source PDF at centralbank.go.ke. If we say a DCP is licensed and CBK does not, CBK wins. Tell us at /report.
- If the brand is not on either list, they may be a bank (see the CBK banks list), a SACCO (SASRA), riding on a licensed DCP as a partner, or operating illegally. Use /tools/cbk-licence-checker to search both CBK registers at once.
FAQ
How many CBK-licensed Digital Credit Providers are there in Kenya?
281, according to CBK's Directory of Digital Credit Providers updated on 29 September 2026. This hub lists all 281, every entry copied from that PDF, including the 29 licensed on 28 September 2026.
Is Tala CBK licensed?
Yes. Tala is trading name of Inventure Mobile Limited, licensed by CBK as a Digital Credit Provider on 30 January 2023. See /cbk-licensed-dcps/tala.
Is Branch CBK licensed?
Branch does not appear on the CBK Directory of Digital Credit Providers updated 29 September 2026. Branch International trades in Kenya but is not on this register. Verify at the CBK PDF before borrowing.
Is Zenka CBK licensed?
Yes. Zenka Digital Limited is licensed as a DCP since 27 March 2023. See /cbk-licensed-dcps/zenka-digital.
What is the difference between a DCP and a PSP?
A Digital Credit Provider (DCP) lends money without taking deposits, regulated under the CBK Digital Credit Providers Regulations 2022. A Payment Service Provider (PSP) moves money or issues e-money, regulated under the National Payment System Act 2011. Tala and Watu are DCPs. M-PESA and Paystack are PSPs. A brand can hold both or neither. See /cbk-licensed-psps for the PSP directory.
Is Mwananchi Credit or Momentum Credit on the DCP register?
Yes to both. Mwananchi Credit Ltd is licensed as a DCP from 2 September 2025. Momentum Credit Limited is licensed from 1 October 2024. Ngao, Platinum and Progressive Credit are all on the register too. See the full table above.
How often does CBK update the DCP directory?
CBK updates the directory through the year, usually after each round of licensing. The most recent one is dated 29 September 2026, lists 281 lenders, and is what this hub reflects.
What if my loan app is not on the register?
Under section 33S of the CBK Act (as amended by the Business Laws Amendment Act 2024, in force 27 December 2024), unlicensed operation of a non-deposit-taking credit business is criminal, up to 3 years imprisonment or a fine of up to KES 5 million. If a lender is not on this register and is not a bank, SACCO, insurer or capital markets licensee, treat it as high risk.
What are borrower rights under the CBK DCP Regulations 2022?
Licensed DCPs must disclose the total cost of credit up front, cap non-interest charges to a level approved by CBK, treat customer data under the Data Protection Act, and route complaints through a CBK-supervised channel. Debt-shaming and threats to third-party contacts are prohibited.
Can DCPs report me to CRB?
Licensed DCPs can list borrowers with the Credit Reference Bureaus if the loan is in arrears above a set threshold and the borrower has been given notice. This is the same standard banks and microfinance banks follow.
What is the interest cap for DCPs?
The CBK Digital Credit Providers Regulations 2022 do not set a hard interest cap, but non-interest charges (fees, penalties) must be approved by CBK and the total cost of credit disclosed to the borrower before drawdown.
Do SACCOs count as DCPs?
No. SACCOs are regulated by the SACCO Societies Regulatory Authority (SASRA), not CBK. If a lender is a SACCO, verify with SASRA rather than the CBK DCP register.
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