Is M-KOPA licensed by CBK in Kenya? (2026)

Yes. M-Kopa Loan Kenya Ltd was licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya on 30 January 2023, part of the first tranche of licensees under the CBK 2022 digital credit regulations. What that covers, and why M-KOPA still publishes almost no headline pricing.

by Arnold Ochieng Reviewed by Michael Mwangi 8 min read Updated 26 August 2026Verified 26 Aug 2026

The short answer

Yes. M-Kopa Loan Kenya Ltd appears in the Central Bank of Kenya register of non-deposit-taking credit providers, with a licence date of 30 January 2023 [Source 1]. M-KOPA was part of the first tranche of licensees CBK approved under the original 2022 Digital Credit Providers Regulations, which were later expanded to cover asset finance and PAYGo under the 2024 amendments.

What being CBK-licensed means for M-KOPA

The Business Laws (Amendment) Act No. 20 of 2024, in force 27 December 2024 [Source 2], reframed the earlier "digital credit business" category as "non-deposit taking credit business" and expressly covered asset financing, PAYGo, and BNPL. Section 33S set unlicensed operation as a criminal offence.

For M-KOPA and its customers, the licence carries three practical consequences:

Code of Conduct compliance. The CBK Digital Credit Providers Code of Conduct, extended to non-deposit credit providers under the 2024 amendments, prohibits debt-shaming, calling third parties in the borrower contacts, threatening violence, and misrepresenting a debt as owed to a court [Source 3].
Complaint route. If M-KOPA does not resolve an issue directly, borrowers can escalate to CBK Consumer Protection on 0800 720 000, then to court.
Ongoing supervision. M-KOPA remains subject to CBK oversight and must maintain compliance to retain the licence.

M-KOPA's specific niche

M-KOPA is primarily a PAYGo (Pay As You Go) financier of phones, smart TVs, solar systems, and other electronics. Its product model is: customer pays a deposit, then daily or weekly instalments unlock ongoing usage of the device until the total is settled. The device is remotely locked if payment lapses.

This model was one of the categories explicitly captured by the 2024 amendments ("asset financing, PAYGo, BNPL" is the language of the Act) [Source 2], though M-KOPA had already been licensed under the earlier 2022 regime.

A caveat on pricing transparency

M-KOPA publishes deposit figures and daily instalment figures on its product pages but does not publish a headline APR. That is not unique to M-KOPA; the PAYGo category as a whole tends to price by daily instalment rather than by disclosed effective rate. For the arithmetic on how "KES X down, KES Y per day" translates into a total cost and an implied APR, see our what Lipa Mdogo Mdogo actually costs methodology page. The framework there is the transferable one.

The CBK licence does not require M-KOPA to publish an APR, and it does not cap the effective rate. Licensing is about consumer protection process, not price disclosure. See why CBK licensing matters if you are borrowing in Kenya for the honest scoping.

Context: how many are licensed

As of the CBK July 2026 press release, 252 non-deposit taking credit providers have been licensed out of more than 800 applications since March 2022 [Source 4]. M-KOPA has held its licence continuously since January 2023.

How to verify M-KOPA yourself

Open the CBK non-deposit taking credit providers register (verify against CBK's own site).
Search for the exact registered name: M-Kopa Loan Kenya Ltd (not the trade name "M-KOPA").
Confirm the licence date (30 January 2023).
Cross-check with the paybillke CBK Licence Checker.

For the general playbook, see how to check if a lender is licensed in Kenya, in 2 minutes.

Sources appendix

Central Bank of Kenya. Register of non-deposit-taking credit providers, April 2026 publication. M-Kopa Loan Kenya Ltd, licensed 30 January 2023.
Business Laws (Amendment) Act No. 20 of 2024, Republic of Kenya. In force 27 December 2024. Section 33S penalties for unlicensed non-deposit-taking credit business.
Central Bank of Kenya. Digital Credit Providers Code of Conduct, issued alongside the 2022 regulations, extended to non-deposit credit providers under the 2024 amendments.
Central Bank of Kenya press release, July 2026, citing 252 licensed non-deposit taking credit providers from more than 800 applications received since March 2022.

FAQ

Is M-KOPA licensed by CBK?

Yes. M-Kopa Loan Kenya Ltd is listed in the Central Bank of Kenya register of non-deposit-taking credit providers, licence date 30 January 2023, part of the first tranche of licensees under the CBK 2022 digital credit provider regulations.

What is M-KOPA licensed to do?

Provide non-deposit-taking credit in Kenya, which covers the PAYGo financing model for phones, TVs, solar systems, and other electronics that M-KOPA offers.

Does M-KOPA publish its interest rates?

M-KOPA publishes deposit and daily payment figures for its PAYGo products but does not publish a headline APR. Total-cost transparency in this category is limited by design; see the paybillke Lipa Mdogo Mdogo methodology for context.

What does CBK licensing mean for M-KOPA customers?

Compliance with the CBK Digital Credit Providers Code of Conduct (no debt-shaming, no third-party disclosure, no threats), and a complaint route through CBK Consumer Protection at 0800 720 000 if the lender does not resolve a grievance directly.