Monitor this situation.
Unsubscribe anytime.
[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [BUSINESS]
2 clusters · 11 sources · 5 days · First seen · Last updated
SME financing trends in Kenya
Overview
Kenya’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are navigating a tightening credit environment. Data from the Central Bank of Kenya indicates a decline in MSME loan accounts, falling from 1.18 million in 2022 to 890,000 in 2024, with their share of total banking sector loan accounts dropping from 8 per cent to 6 per cent.
In response to these financing gaps, new credit options have emerged. NCBA and HEVA Fund launched a KES 20 million ‘Start-Up Incubator’ facility specifically for the creative economy. This unsecured product offers a 9% interest rate for up to six months, which is notably lower than the commercial banks’ weighted average lending rate of 14.39% reported in July 2026.
Additionally, Ngao Credit introduced the ‘Jijenge 90-Day Supplier Loan’, providing between Ksh100,000 and Ksh4 million to assist businesses in fulfilling confirmed tenders. Unlike the creative industry facility, these loans are secured by vehicles.
Entities
HEVA Fund · NCBA · Kenya · Central Bank of Kenya · Ngao Credit
Timeline
-
12 days ago
[BUSINESS] 8 sourcesKenya SMEs face credit squeeze as new financing options emergeKenyan SMEs face a shrinking pool of formal credit as MSME loan accounts decline. In response, Ngao Credit and the NCBA-HEVA partnership have launched new financing facilities to support businesses and creators
-
17 days ago
[BUSINESS] 3 sourcesNCBA and HEVA Fund launch KES 20M financing for Kenya’s creative economyNCBA and HEVA Fund have launched a KES 20 million zero-security financing facility to support Kenyan creative entrepreneurs and SMEs with tailored, short-term loans.
Sources
biznakenya.com · businesselitesafrica.com · businesstoday.co.ke · cbn.co.za · impactalpha.com · insidepolitic.co.za · laidlawscholars.network · newstrends.co.ke · smesouthafrica.co.za · tech-ish.com · uzalendonews.co.ke