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Loans without an app in Kenya (2026): USSD and M-PESA menu loans

Five licensed ways to borrow without installing anything: two inside the M-PESA menu and three on USSD codes. Each route below is copied from the lender's own website.

AO
by Reviewed by Michael Mwangi 5 min read Updated 18 October 2026Verified 18 Oct 2026

You can borrow from a licensed lender without any app: M-Shwari and KCB M-PESA live in the M-PESA menu, and the Hustler Fund (*254#), Absa Timiza (*848#) and Equity Eazzy Loan (*247#) work on USSD from any phone. Each route below was checked on the lender's own site on 18 October 2026.

Five licensed ways to borrow without an app

LoanLenderHow to borrow without an appLineSource
M-ShwariNCBA, inside M-PESAM-PESA menu, Loans and Savings, M-Shwari, LOANSafaricomSafaricom M-Shwari FAQ
KCB M-PESAKCB, inside M-PESAM-PESA menu, Loans and Savings, KCB M-PESASafaricomKCB M-PESA FAQ
Hustler FundGovernment (Financial Inclusion Fund)Dial *254#Safaricom, Telkom or Airtelhustlerfund.go.ke
TimizaAbsa Bank KenyaDial *848#Absa does not say; dial it to checkAbsa Timiza page
Equity Eazzy LoanEquity Bank, for Equity customersDial *247#, Borrow, Check Loan Limit, Eazzy LoanEquitel, or your registered numberEquity Bank Kenya

The two loans already in your M-PESA menu

If you are on Safaricom, open the M-PESA menu and choose Loans and Savings. M-Shwari (run by NCBA) and KCB M-PESA (run by KCB) are both there, so there is nothing to download. You may need to opt in the first time. Each lender sets your limit, and both say saving with them helps it grow. To pay either loan back, see how to pay M-Shwari or how to pay KCB M-PESA.

Fuliza is in the same menu, but it is an overdraft on M-PESA payments, not a loan you request. See how Fuliza works.

The three USSD loans

  • Hustler Fund, *254#. The government's Financial Inclusion Fund says you can dial *254# on Safaricom, Telkom or Airtel to borrow the personal loan. See Hustler Fund on *254#.
  • Absa Timiza, *848#. Absa says you can dial *848# or use the Timiza app. See the Timiza review.
  • Equity Eazzy Loan, *247#. Equity's steps are *247#, Borrow, Check Loan Limit, then Eazzy Loan. It is for Equity customers. See Eazzy Loan on *247#.

For every other loan short code, including bank menus, see all loan USSD codes.

Before you borrow

  1. Check what you will repay in shillings with the loan repayment calculator.
  2. Borrow only what your next income covers. Late repayment can get you listed on CRB.
  3. If you need more than these limits allow, a SACCO loan is often cheaper. Compare them in SACCO vs bank vs app.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a loan in Kenya without downloading an app?

Yes. M-Shwari and KCB M-PESA sit inside the M-PESA menu, the Hustler Fund works on *254#, Absa Timiza on *848#, and Equity Eazzy Loan on *247#. None of these needs an app installed.

Which loan works on a basic phone with no internet?

All five routes on this page work by USSD or the SIM menu, so they run on a basic phone without data. The Hustler Fund says *254# works on Safaricom, Telkom and Airtel lines.

Is a "quick loan without app" offer on WhatsApp or SMS safe?

Treat it as a scam until proved otherwise. Licensed lenders give you the loan through their own channels. Check the name on the CBK list of licensed digital lenders, and never send money to someone to "unlock" a loan.

Do loans without an app check CRB?

Assume they do. Bank and M-PESA loans are reported to credit bureaus, and late repayment can get you listed. See loan apps that do not check CRB for what that search really finds.

Sources

Every loan in Kenya, with repayment guides and calculators, is in the loans hub.

Related reading

Curated external sources we cite. Open in a new tab.