By Isaac Blessings
Mobile app loans have become popular in Kenya with many people opting to access loans through these apps and not the traditional lending institutions. Kenyans prefer these apps because they are reliable, easy to apply and require little or no security at all. However, little is known about the companies and individuals behind these apps. In this article, we highlight the owners of the most popular mobile loan apps in Kenya.
Branch
Branch is arguably one of the most famous mobile loaning apps in Kenya. Through this app, one can access up to Ksh 70,000 from their mobile devices any time anywhere. The app was established in 2011 by Matt Flannery who is also the Chief Executive of the company. He previously worked at Kiva.org as a product manager and development strategists before quitting and starting Branch. The app is available for downloading in the Google Play Store for android users and App Store for apple devices.
Tala
Tala app can’t miss in the list of Kenya’s most popular mobile loan apps. The app provides personalized loans based on your digital credit history. You can track your credit using My Tala Status and repay your whole debt at once or in partial payments. The app was founded in 2011 by an Indian-American entrepreneur known as Shivani Siroya. She also doubles as the company’s Chief Executive officer. The company has grown to have subsidiaries in Uganda, Tanzania, India and the Philippines. Prior to starting Tala, she worked with the UN Population Fund, CitiBank and Credit Suisse. The company’s board is made up of Susan Ngula as the Site Operations Director, Rebecca Maruti as the Senior Regional Director and Bong Yoon as the head of the Finance department.
Also Read: Tala Mkopo Founder, Her Net Worth And Shareholders
Timiza
Timiza app is owned by the ABSA Bank of Kenya. The app offers small loans to users and requires no security or complicated requirements. It also allows its users to do other services including fund transfers, insurance purchases, paying bills and depositing money directly to their bank accounts. The app was developed by Craft Silicon, the company behind e-taxi services. The app is also in partnership with Safaricom such that in order to qualify for a loan, you need to be a Safaricom user for more than six months. You also need to be actively using Safaricom services such as M-pesa, calls and data. Timiza app is available in both Google Play Store and App store. Users getting difficulties when registering can dial *848# to register.
Also Read: List Of Mobile Banking Apps In Kenya
iPesa
IPesa loan app offers fast and unsecured loans from between Ksh 500 to Ksh 50,000. The duration of payment varies depending on the size of your loan. The shortest time is 91 days while the longest period is 180 days giving their clients ample time to repay their loan. Their interest rate is 12 percent and require no service fee or complicated requirements. The app is managed by MIB Networks – a company founded by Chinese Billionaire Junjie Zhou. Prior to opening MIB Networks, Zhou was the CEO of Opera and Founder of Grindr – a company he sold for Ksh 66 Billion. The current director is a Kenyan man named Elijah Ng’ang’a Ikahu.
Okash
Okash app is also one of Kenya’s favorite and popular money lending app. The app provides both personal and business loans amounting to a maximum of 60,000. It uses your personal details that you used to register with to determine the amount of money to loan you. They do not require any security or documents to provide their loans although their interest rate is slightly higher at 14 percent. Okash is owned by Opay Digital Services – a company registered in the United Kingdom. The company is associated with O-stream Credit Limited – a company owned by Chinese Billionaire Junjie Zhou. Mr Wang and Han Fang are listed as the app’s directors.
Also Read: Top Ten Banks Offering The Cheapest Loans In Kenya
Zenka
Zenka app is one of the most hyped mobile loan apps in Kenya. Using social media influencers, TV adverts and billboards, the app has become one of the most famous apps in the country. If it is your first time taking a loan with the app, you will be required to pay the money interest free. It means that you will only repay the exact amount of money you borrowed within a period of 61 days. The company was founded in 2018 by Kenyan entrepreneur Robert Masinde who also doubles up as the company’s Chief Executive Officer. The app is available for downloading in both Google Play Store and App Store.
Kashway
Kashway is a mobile loaning app providing both personal and business loans. It provides loans from between Ksh 500 to Ksh 60,000 depending on your credit history. The company was established on 15th May 2019 and has grown to become one of Kenya’s most preferred mobile loan app. The app is managed by Wakanda Credit Limited – a subsidiary of XGO Kenya Limited which is linked to Chinese Billionaire Junjie Zhou. The app has Kenyan Elijah Ng’ang’a Ikuhu at its helm.
Berry
Berry app is described as the most unique mobile loan app in Kenya. It offers low-cost instant mobile loans with flexible repayment schedules. The first loan cannot exceed Ksh 500 but with time the amount gradually rises to a maximum of Ksh 50,000. The app is managed by Finberry Capital Limited – a company founded by Kenyan Billionaire Stanley Ng’ethe Kinyajui on 19th May 2018. Kinyajui who is a close ally of President Uhuru Kenyatta was part of the group of influential people dubbed ‘Friends of Jubilee’ that raised Ksh 1 billion under two hours to the Campaign of President Uhuru during the 2017 general elections.
Also Read: Banks In Kenya With The Most Expensive Loans
Credit Hela
Credit Hela is a mobile loan app that provides personal unsecured loans of up to Ksh 55,000. The app has an interest of 12 percent and repayment period of between 60 to 180 days depending on the size of your loan. Established on November 4th 2019, Credit Hela is managed by O-Stream limited – a company registered in the United Kingdom and associated with Chinese billionaire Junjie Zhou. It has Mr Wang and Han Fang at the helm of its leadership. The app is available for downloading in both Google Play store and App store.
Haraka
Haraka app has gained a name as the most reliable mobile loan app for emergency loans. The app offers instant unsecured loans directly to your M-pesa within minutes of completing your application. They also reward their loyal clients and those that repay their loans within the designated period. The app is owned by a South African money lending company known as GetBucks. Apart from Kenya and South Africa, the app has branches in Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Swaziland.
