Kenyans Can Still Get Loans Despite CRB Listing as CreditInfo CEO Explains What Really Matters

Many Kenyans worry that appearing on a Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) record automatically prevents them from borrowing money. However, the information maintained by credit bureaus serves a broader purpose than simply identifying borrowers who have failed to repay their loans.

CreditInfo CRB Chief Executive Officer Chris Mwangi has explained that being listed with a credit bureau does not automatically mean a borrower has been blacklisted or disqualified from accessing credit.

According to Mwangi, credit reference bureaus collect and maintain information about borrowers’ financial histories, enabling lenders to assess how individuals have handled their previous borrowing obligations.

Speaking during a Co-operative Bank youth forum on credit, CRBs and financial futures on Friday, October 9, Mwangi clarified that the bureaus do not independently blacklist borrowers. Instead, they maintain records showing how loans have been managed and repaid.

“CRBs do not blacklist. All they do is maintain a record of the loan performance,” Mwangi said.

The explanation is particularly important for borrowers who may have taken mobile loans, bank loans or other forms of credit and are concerned about how their borrowing history could affect future applications.

A credit record can contain information about loans that have been repaid successfully, outstanding balances and payment defaults. Consequently, being present in a CRB database is not, by itself, evidence that someone has failed to honour a financial obligation.

However, borrowers should understand that a poor repayment history can influence a lender’s assessment of a loan application.

Mwangi explained that credit bureaus obtain information from banks, digital lenders, SACCOs, microfinance banks and other approved data providers. This information helps build a picture of a borrower’s financial conduct over time.

For instance, when a customer receives a loan through a mobile lending application, the lender may submit relevant information about the facility and its repayment performance to a CRB.

The information can subsequently be considered when the customer applies for another loan, depending on the lender’s assessment process.

Mwangi also highlighted that credit information can extend beyond conventional bank and mobile loans. Businesses that supply goods or services on credit may also be able to share relevant information through approved arrangements, subject to applicable regulatory requirements.

He illustrated this using the example of a hardware business that supplies paint to a contractor who agrees to pay after completing a project. Such an arrangement creates a credit obligation, and the business may seek approval to share relevant information through a credit bureau.

The CEO further explained that credit scores help lenders evaluate borrowers’ repayment patterns. At CreditInfo, he said, scores range from 250 to 900, with lower scores indicating greater lending risk and higher scores indicating lower risk.

For borrowers hoping to improve their credit standing, Mwangi emphasised the importance of taking loans they can comfortably repay and meeting their payment deadlines.

Borrowers should also avoid ignoring lenders when financial difficulties arise. Instead, those who anticipate missing a repayment should contact their lenders early to discuss possible arrangements.

A lender may agree to revise a payment date or establish another repayment arrangement. Borrowers should confirm any agreement with the lender and ensure that the account information is updated appropriately.

Such communication can help borrowers address repayment difficulties rather than allowing unresolved obligations to accumulate.

Mwangi also encouraged Kenyans to check their credit reports regularly to confirm that their personal details, loan balances and repayment records are accurate.

A credit report contains detailed information about a person’s borrowing history, while a credit score summarises aspects of that information in numerical form.

Checking the report can help borrowers identify errors or unfamiliar entries and seek clarification or correction where necessary.

The importance of credit information is also reflected in figures published by the Central Bank of Kenya. Its Bank Supervision Annual Report 2025 recorded a 23 per cent increase in credit report requests by commercial banks and microfinance banks, rising from 38.6 million in 2024 to 47.3 million in 2025.

The figures highlight the growing use of credit information in lending decisions across Kenya’s financial sector.

President William Ruto has also been pushing for wider use of credit scoring to assess borrowers’ ability to repay loans.

Nevertheless, a good credit score does not guarantee that a lender will approve an application or offer a lower interest rate. Financial institutions may consider other factors, including income, existing debts, affordability and their own lending requirements.

For Kenyans seeking credit, the central lesson is that maintaining a positive repayment history, checking credit reports for accuracy and communicating with lenders when difficulties arise can help strengthen their borrowing profile.

Rather than assuming that every CRB listing amounts to blacklisting, borrowers should establish what their records actually contain and understand how lenders may interpret that information.

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