The Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) is a Central Bank of Kenya licensed institution that maintains credit records for millions of Kenyans. Every formal lender — banks, SACCOs, microfinance institutions, mobile lenders — reports your borrowing behaviour to the CRB.
What gets reported
- On-time payments (positive listing)
- Late payments (negative listing)
- Defaults and non-repayment (negative listing)
- Loan applications (inquiry record)
Who checks your CRB Any lender you apply to will check your CRB report before approving or rejecting your application. A negative CRB listing is one of the most common reasons loan applications are declined in Kenya.
The three licensed CRBs in Kenya
- Metropol CRB
- TransUnion CRB (formerly CreditInfo)
- Creditinfo CRB
How to check your own report You are entitled to one free CRB report per year from each bureau. Request it directly through their websites or by calling them.
How long negative listings last Under CBK regulations, negative listings remain on your record for up to 5 years from the date of clearance. The lender who listed you must remove the listing within 30 days of full repayment.
If you have been listed negatively, repaying the debt is the first step — but you must then follow up with the lender to confirm they have submitted a clearance request to the CRB.