Central Bank of Kenya approves 25 new loan apps

Bula,

Victoria from Techpoint here,

Here’s what I’ve got for you today:

• Kenya licenses 25 more digital lenders
• Malawi moves to tighten data protection rules
• Morocco cuts card payment fees

Kenya licenses 25 more digital lenders

Kenya’s digital lending industry just got a lot bigger and a lot more regulated. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has licensed 25 additional Digital Credit Providers (DCPs), bringing the total number of approved digital lenders in the country to 252. Announced on July 14, 2026, the move is part of the regulator’s ongoing effort to clean up Kenya’s booming digital lending market by ensuring only vetted lenders can legally operate.

The latest approvals are good news for borrowers, but they also come with a warning. CBK has reminded Kenyans to borrow only from licensed lenders, saying companies that haven’t received approval are operating outside the law. The regulator introduced mandatory licensing after years of complaints about digital loan apps charging excessive interest rates, mishandling customers’ personal data and using aggressive debt collection tactics. By expanding the list of licensed firms, CBK hopes to improve consumer protection while maintaining access to quick digital credit.

The announcement also highlights just how quickly digital lending has grown in Kenya. As of February 2026, licensed digital lenders had issued about 7.5 million loans worth KSh133.5 billion, covering everything from personal and business loans to education and asset financing. Much of that growth has been driven by Kenya’s mobile-first economy, where millions of people can apply for loans through mobile apps or USSD without visiting a bank branch.

This latest round of licences builds on a regulatory process that began in…