Digital lenders disburse over Sh500 billion in mobile loans
Business
By
Graham Kajilwa
| Mar 16, 2023
The Digital Lenders Association of Kenya has rebranded to Digital Financial Services Association of Kenya (DFSAK) even as it reported disbursing over Sh500 billion in mobile loans to small businesses and households over the last eight years
The association chair said the rebrand was a strategic bid to deepen financial inclusion by bringing together more players in the financial services ecosystem and being more responsive to customer needs.
"With a robust regulatory environment and increasing consumer interest, we expect the sector to keep deepening financial inclusion in the coming years," said DFSAK chairperson Kevin Mutiso yesterday during The Digital Finance Summit 2023 in Nairobi.
Mr Mutiso noted that more than eight million Kenyans have benefited from affordable mobile micro-loans, with an estimated 70 per cent borrowing for business reasons.
READ MORE
Expert: The shilling has regained value, but don't expect it to last
Unearthing the artifacts of WWII: A journey through Matuu and beyond
Roam, County Bus Service partner to deploy 200 electric buses
Budget cuts loom for Parliament thanks to Sh9.6b Bunge Towers
Private sector partnerships important to catalysing sports
Tax stand-off as boda boda riders defy county call to pay
Islamic banking gets traction in Africa as Salaam Bank feted
Data privacy major challenge for Kenya's digital space, report
Angola ICT Minister: Invest in space industry to ensure a connected, peaceful Africa
According to Mutiso, a vibrant tech-ecosystem and opening up of Africa's digital economy are now seen creating more opportunities for medium-small and micro enterprises that are increasingly hopping into digital and social media platforms to acquire customers and new markets.
"We foresee demand for mobile credit rising as small local businesses turn to online marketing platforms and seek growth funds beyond borders," he said.
Digital services are projected to add an extra Sh22.7 trillion to Africa's GDP by 2025, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
Backing this trend is a near doubling of Kenya's fintech start-ups totaling Sh72.3 billion in 2022 from Sh36. 4 billion in 2021. DFSAK is looking to ride on these positive market sentiments to rack up more funding towards onward lending to the growing customer numbers, develop new digital financial services such as digital insurance, digital savings plan and digital investment platforms while bolstering financial literacy levels and oversee licensing of more providers.
"In the next phase, the association is looking to overturn the shortfalls experienced in the last eight years, including harmful debt collection practices still prevalent even as licensing continues," Mr Mutiso said.
- Expert: The shilling has regained value, but don't expect it to last
- Budget cuts loom for Parliament thanks to Sh9.6b Bunge Towers
- Firm linked to fake fertiliser calls for arrest of Linturi, NCPB boss