Licence Checker Kenya: CBK Loan Apps, SASRA Saccos and CMA Investment Firms

Updated 17 October 2026

Before you borrow from a loan app, save with a Sacco or open a forex or investment account, check that it is on the regulator’s official list. This free checker searches three lists in one place: the Central Bank of Kenya’s directory of licensed digital credit providers, the Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority’s list of licensed and authorised Saccos, and the Capital Markets Authority’s register of licensees and approved investment products. Type a name and you see straight away whether it is listed, under which category, and the date of the list you are checking against.

Which Lists the Checker Uses

• Loan apps: the CBK Directory of Digital Credit Providers updated on 29 September 2026, which lists 281 licensed companies with their licence dates, phone numbers and offices.
• Saccos: the SASRA list of licensed and authorised Sacco societies for the financial year ending 31 December 2026, dated 3 February 2026. It contains 176 deposit-taking Saccos, 176 non-deposit-taking Saccos authorised for BOSA business, five Saccos restricted to credit-only, one that ceased business after a merger and one whose authorisation was revoked.
• Investment and forex firms: the CMA online register of licensees and approved institutions, retrieved on 17 October 2026. It covers 342 entries, including online forex brokers, fund managers, stockbrokers, investment banks, investment advisers, REITs and approved unit trust funds.

Both lists are stored as data files that we update when the regulators publish new editions. The date is always printed above the results, so you know exactly how current your answer is.

How to Use It

1. Choose the tab. “Loan apps (CBK)” for digital lenders, “Saccos (SASRA)” for Saccos, and “Investment and forex firms (CMA)” for brokers, fund managers and unit trusts.
2. Type the name. For loan apps you can type the app’s brand name, such as Tala or Zenka, and the checker shows the licensed company behind it where we have matched the two. You can also type the company name from the app’s terms or its Google Play developer name.
3. Read the status. “Licensed” means the company is on CBK’s directory. For Saccos, the status tells you whether it may take deposits, is authorised for non-deposit-taking business only, or carries a warning.

What “Not Found” Means

If a name does not appear, the checker says it is not found on the latest list, together with the list date. That can mean several things. You may have misspelled it, or the app may trade under a brand that differs from its registered company name. A lender licensed after the list date will not appear until CBK publishes its next directory. For Saccos, many smaller societies are supervised by the Commissioner for Co-operative Development rather than SASRA, so a Sacco missing from SASRA’s list is not regulated by SASRA, though it may still be registered.

The safe rule for loan apps is simple: if you cannot confirm an app is licensed, do not give it access to your phone contacts, photos or M-PESA, and do not borrow from it.

Why the Licence Matters

Licensed digital lenders must follow CBK’s rules on disclosing costs, handling your data and collecting debts. If a licensed lender shames you to your contacts or charges fees it did not disclose, you can complain to CBK. An unlicensed app answers to no one. For Saccos, a SASRA deposit-taking licence means the Sacco is supervised on capital, liquidity and governance, which protects members’ savings. Non-deposit-taking Saccos authorised for BOSA business can take non-withdrawable member deposits that back loans, but they cannot run withdrawable savings accounts like a FOSA.

Checking a Forex Broker or Investment Firm

The CMA tab shows the category each firm is licensed under, such as non-dealing online forex broker or fund manager, with its licence number where CMA lists one. Forex platforms often trade under a brand name, so search the company name from the platform’s terms if the brand does not appear. Our page on checking if a forex broker is licensed by CMA explains the categories and the warning signs of forex scams.

Step-by-Step Guides

• How to Check if a Loan App Is Licensed by CBK
• How to Check if a Sacco Is Licensed by SASRA
• How to check if a doctor, advocate or other professional is registered

Related Pages

• Full list of CBK-licensed digital lenders with contacts
• SASRA licensed Saccos list
• Loan app cost checker: compare what each app really costs
• Cheapest loan apps in Kenya

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if a loan app is licensed by CBK?

Choose the loan apps tab and type the app or company name. Licensed lenders show as licensed with the date of the CBK directory.

How do I check if a Sacco is licensed by SASRA?

Choose the Saccos tab and type the Sacco name. The result shows whether it may take deposits or is authorised for non-deposit-taking business only.

How do I check if a forex broker is licensed in Kenya?

Choose the CMA tab and type the broker or company name. Licensed brokers appear with their CMA category.

How often are the lists updated?

We update each list when the regulator publishes a new edition. The list date is shown above every result.