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OKash loan review (2026): what it is, licence status, and cautions

Historically controversial. Verify licence and current operating status before drawing.

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

What OKash is

OKash is a mobile lending brand historically linked to Opera Software and its consumer-finance subsidiaries. In Kenya it operated as an Android app with short-tenure unsecured loans disbursed to M-PESA.

Verify status first

  1. Check the Google Play listing for current availability in Kenya.
  2. Open the app terms and note the registered company name.
  3. Search the CBK register of non-deposit-taking credit providers for that name.
  4. Cross-check on the paybillke CBK licence checker.

The historical criticism

Between 2019 and 2021, Kenyan and international media reported on OKash and adjacent apps over collection practices that included alleged contact-list scraping and outreach to third parties in borrower phone books. Google Play issued policy enforcement actions in 2020 removing personal-loan apps whose behaviour violated Play policies. That created the political impetus for the CBK Digital Credit Providers Regulations, 2022 and the associated Code of Conduct.

The Code, and the subsequent Business Laws (Amendment) Act No. 20 of 2024, criminalise unlicensed operation and codify prohibitions against debt-shaming, contact-list use, and out-of-hours calls.

Pricing

OKash historically priced at a flat facility fee with a very short tenure, driving high effective annualised cost. Do not assume old rate figures are current. If OKash is operating today, verify current cost in the app.

Who OKash suits

Given the historical baggage and the availability of clearly-licensed alternatives (Tala, Zenka, Branch), most borrowers should default to alternatives. Only consider OKash if you confirm current CBK-licensed status and current in-app terms.

If something goes wrong

  1. In-app support first, in writing.
  2. Complain to CBK Consumer Protection on 0800 720 000.
  3. For contact-list scraping or third-party outreach, file with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.

Sources

  1. Central Bank of Kenya. Register of non-deposit-taking credit providers.
  2. Central Bank of Kenya. Digital Credit Providers Code of Conduct, 2022.
  3. Business Laws (Amendment) Act No. 20 of 2024.
  4. Google Play developer policy enforcement history, 2020 to 2021.

FAQ

Is OKash operating in Kenya?

OKash historically operated in Kenya. Verify current status on the app store, and confirm the registered company name against the CBK register of non-deposit-taking credit providers before drawing.

Why does OKash have a bad reputation?

OKash faced significant public criticism during 2019 to 2021 over aggressive collection practices, including alleged contact-scraping and debt-shaming. Google Play removed a number of lenders during that period. Any current operation would need to comply with the CBK Digital Credit Providers Code of Conduct, which prohibits those practices.

What does OKash charge?

Historically priced at a flat facility fee with short tenures, driving high effective rates. Do not treat old rate figures as current; if OKash operates today, read in-app.

Further reading

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