Metropol is pushing for open banking in the credit market, a reform which, if accommodated, will strengthen the existing Credit Reference Bureaus (CRB) frameworks for assessing borrowers’ capacity.
Speaking at the Second Edition of the Credit Market Growth Summit in Limuru, Metropol CRB Chief Executive Gideon Kipyakwai said ongoing reforms would provide a clear pathway for a more data-driven credit ecosystem.
He pointed to the recently approved National Financial Inclusion Strategy and the National Credit Strategy as key enablers of a transition from traditional credit information sharing to a broader “information for credit” model.
“The recently approved National Financial Inclusion Strategy, alongside the National Credit Strategy, provides a clear pathway for the market to transition from traditional credit information sharing to a more progressive model of information for credit sharing,” said Kipyakwai.
What it means is that lenders will increasingly rely on consumer-consented transaction data to build more comprehensive borrower profiles.
Improved visibility of cash flows is expected to enhance credit risk assessment and underwriting decisions, allowing lenders to better match pricing with risk.
“With open banking, there will be improved visibility of cash flows. With these new data points, lenders will be better positioned to undertake more accurate and inclusive credit risk underwriting,” he said.
Kenya has three licensed bureaus and Metropol is among the first that has already put in place the controls and tools needed to support both lenders and borrowers as the market prepares for the rollout and eventual mandating of open banking.
At the same forum, Credit Information Sharing (CIS) Kenya CEO Andrew Njeru urged credit providers to adopt full file sharing, noting that incomplete data continues to distort risk assessment across the market.
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“Without credit information, lenders cannot distinguish good borrowers from bad. They either price everyone high or withdraw from the market. CIS enables risk-based pricing, rewarding good borrowers and making credit markets more efficient. These are not abstract economic concepts. They are the daily reality of lending without information,” said Njeru.
As of February 2026, 35 institutions had completed the Go-Live Certification Test (GCT) and were actively submitting credit data to all licensed CRBs. A further 31 Credit Information Providers (CIPs) participated in both daily and monthly submission cycles during the month.
Most institutions recorded data acceptance rates above 95%, signalling improved compliance with submission standards and growing system stability.
The CIS mechanism enables lenders to exchange borrower credit histories through licensed bureaus. At its core, it addresses a fundamental question for lenders whether a borrower can be trusted to repay.
Without reliable credit information, lending either contracts or becomes a high-risk exercise, often resulting in higher borrowing costs across the market.
Industry players now see open banking and deeper data integration as the next step in improving efficiency, expanding access, and supporting sustainable credit growth.
