Metropol Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) Limited has compiled credit data on over 21 million Kenyans and 800 businesses, with 14 million identified as active borrowers. This marks a significant surge from 12 million in mid-2020, largely driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Chief Data Officer Edna Mulwa.
Mulwa explained that the data, gathered from 2,500 institutions, has allowed lenders to create tailored credit products based on borrowers’ risk profiles. “The number of individuals and businesses listed with the CRB has grown substantially, reflecting the evolving financial landscape during and after the pandemic,” she noted.
One of the key advancements highlighted by Mulwa is the automation of Metropol CRB’s system, which accelerates the removal of individuals from the CRB list once they settle their debts.
“The official timeframe for removing the names of borrowers who have cleared their payments is 48 hours, but Metropol does it almost instantly,” she emphasized, underlining the organization’s commitment to improving borrower experience.
During a two-day workshop in Nakuru with finance organizations from the South Rift Region, Mulwa also shared insights on how research and analysis of borrower data have enabled financial institutions to better understand credit risk and default trends.
The workshop, which brought together senior officers from Nakuru County Government’s Cooperatives Department, Sacco heads, bank managers, and officials from the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, provided a platform for discussing CRB regulations, data privacy, and regional credit behavior.
Metropol CRB Chief Executive Officer Gideon Kipyakwai further elaborated on the role of the CRB in enhancing lending services. “A financial institution can always refer to Metropol CRB’s database to assess borrower ratings, and this information can be used to guarantee loans for borrowers,” he explained.
Kipyakwai also addressed concerns regarding the listing of borrowers for small debts, clarifying that the threshold was revised in 2020 to Kes. 1,000 and above. “Metropol CRB has evolved into a comprehensive credit profiling entity, empowering more borrowers to access financing on favorable terms,” he added.
