NAIROBI, Kenya— Metropol Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) has inked a partnership with the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) aimed at strengthening the collection and use of gender-disaggregated data particularly focusing on Women-led Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (WMSMEs).
The agreement seeks to bridge data gaps that have long hindered women entrepreneurs’ access to credit and financial services.
Metropol emerged the successful bidder in a competitive process involving all three licensed CRBs in Kenya.
Speaking during the signing, Metropol CEO Gideon Kipyakwai emphasized the need for reliable, gender-specific data to develop financial solutions tailored to women-led businesses, most of which operate in the informal sector.
“Currently, many Financial Service Providers neither collect nor utilize sex-disaggregated data consistently, making it difficult to design solutions that reflect the realities of women-owned MSMEs,” said Kipyakwai.
“This partnership with KBA will leverage Metropol’s robust data infrastructure to provide centralized, credible access to MSME market data across the country.”
KBA CEO Raymond Molenje said the deal aims to scale up access and use of gender-sensitive data within Kenya’s banking sector to support more inclusive economic growth.
“We will leverage Metropol’s data to improve Kenya’s financial health. With this new deal, women-led MSMEs will have our full support to create jobs and drive a more vibrant economy,” said Molenje.
The initiative is expected to provide a nationwide view of WMSME credit behavior and needs, helping financial institutions tailor products and services to a historically underserved but creditworthy demographic.
Metropol currently serves over 2,500 institutions and holds 23 million individual profiles and 914,000 MSME records, positioning it as a pivotal player in Kenya’s financial data ecosystem.
