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Digital lenders in Kenya now have KSh 153.8 billion in loans outstanding, more than all microfinance banks combined. The figure, as of June 2026, is in the Central Bank of Kenya’s Kenya Financial Sector Stability Report 2025 and was reported by Business Daily on 7 November 2026.
CBK’s chart of digital credit provider (DCP) loans shows the book at KSh 110.1 billion in December 2025 and KSh 76.8 billion in June 2025, so it grew about 40% in six months and doubled in a year. Loan accounts rose to 8.9 million in June 2026 from 5.5 million a year earlier, and the number of licensed DCPs reached 281 by September 2026.
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Digital lenders’ loan book at a glance
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Outstanding loans, June 2026 | KSh 153.8 billion |
| Outstanding loans, December 2025 | KSh 110.1 billion |
| Outstanding loans, June 2025 | KSh 76.8 billion |
| Loan accounts, June 2026 | 8.9 million (5.5 million in June 2025) |
| Licensed DCPs, September 2026 | 281 |
Dividing the June book by the number of accounts gives an average balance of roughly KSh 17,300 per account.
What CBK says about digital lenders
The report says most DCP loans are below KSh 20,000, with terms of one week to two months, “a niche market for DCPs model”. It credits the growth to technology: lenders use transaction and communication data to score customers and enforce repayment, which reduces their credit risk.
Business Daily also reports CBK’s warning that the loans are too small to fund investments that raise earnings, and that collection costs can exceed the loan, which entrenches delinquency. CBK began licensing DCPs in 2022 after complaints about high charges and debt-shaming.
What borrowers should check
- Borrow only from lenders on CBK’s licensed list; our guide shows how to check a lender’s licence.
- Compare the total cost of the loan with a bank or SACCO loan. Short terms make small fees add up quickly.
- Know your rights: licensed lenders face clear limits on recovery methods, set out in our guide to what digital lenders cannot do.
- Avoid borrowing from one app to repay another.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Kenyans owe digital lenders?
KSh 153.8 billion as of June 2026, according to CBK’s Financial Sector Stability Report 2025.
How many digital lenders are licensed by CBK?
281 as of September 2026, according to the same report.
How big are typical digital loans?
Most are below KSh 20,000, with terms of one week to two months.
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