Credit Reference Bureaus (CRBs) keep records of how people repay loans, including mobile loans such as Fuliza, M-Shwari and digital lenders. Banks and lenders check them before lending to you. Some employers also ask for a CRB clearance certificate.
Kenya has three CRBs licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya: Metropol, TransUnion and Creditinfo. Each one keeps its own record, so you may be listed with one and not another.
Get your credit report
- Visit the website or app of one of the CRBs (links on this page) and choose to get your credit report.
- Register with your ID number and phone number, and confirm with the code you receive.
- Request your report. By law, each CRB must give you one free report every year. Further reports in the same year are charged.
- Read the report: it lists your loans, the lenders, whether you paid on time, and any negative listing (a loan in default).
Beware: Only use the CRBs' official websites, apps or offices. Messages offering to "remove your name from CRB" for a fee are scams.
If you're listed negatively
- Pay or settle the loan with the lender shown on the report. Ask the lender for a letter or confirmation once it's cleared.
- The lender must update the CRB after you pay. Your record then shows the loan as paid.
- Wrong listing? If you don't recognise a loan, or you already paid, raise a dispute with the CRB, with your proof of payment. The CRB must investigate.
CRB clearance certificate
Some jobs and government appointments need a CRB clearance certificate. You can request one from any of the three CRBs, usually for a fee. You'll only get a clean certificate if you have no unpaid loans in default.