Being listed with a Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) does not automatically mean a borrower has been blacklisted or cannot access another loan, CreditInfo CRB CEO Chris Mwangi has said.Speaking during this week’s Co-op Bank Youth Forums on understanding credit, CRBs and financial futures, Mwangi said bureaus maintain records of borrowers’ credit histories to help lenders assess their repayment patterns.“CRBs do not blacklist. All they do is maintain a record of the loan performance,” Mwangi said.The remarks come as President William Ruto continues to push to mainstream the credit score system to assess the ability of Kenyans to repay loans. The Central Bank of Kenya, in its Bank Supervision Annual Report 2025, reported that credit report requests by commercial banks and microfinance banks increased by 23 per cent to 47.3 million in 2025, up from 38.6 million in 2024.According to Mwangi, CRBs receive credit information from banks, digital lenders, SACCOs, microfinance banks and approved third-party data providers. The information includes loans taken, repayments made, outstanding balances, and defaults.“When you apply for a loan on a mobile app, you are given a loan, and that information is sent to the CRB. That is how we get the data,” he said. Third-party providers can also include businesses that supply goods on credit. While explaining, Mwangi gave the example of a hardware store supplying paint to a contractor who agrees to pay after completing a job. The business can seek approval to share relevant credit information through a CRB, subject to regulatory requirements.Mwangi said credit scores are calculated using information supplied by lenders to assess a borrower’s repayment patterns. Credit scores range between 250 and 900, with lower scores indicating higher risk and higher scores indicating lower risk, according to Mwangi. While speaking to youths, Mwangi explained that to maintain a good credit score, borrowers should take loans they can afford and make repayments on time. “For you to have a good credit score, you need to take the loan and pay the amount required when you are required to pay,” Mwangi said.According to Mwangi, borrowers who experience difficulties making repayments should contact their lenders early instead of going silent. Mwangi said a lender may agree to a revised payment date and communicate the arrangement so the borrower’s account can be updated accordingly. He also urged borrowers to check their credit reports regularly to confirm that their personal details, loan balances and repayment records are accurate. A credit report provides detailed credit information, while a credit score summarises aspects of that information numerically. Mwangi said a strong credit history may also help borrowers negotiate more favourable loan terms. However, a credit score does not guarantee loan approval or a lower interest rate, as lenders consider other factors when assessing applications.
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