Small businesses in Kenya cannot access credit despite record bank profitability

Kenyan small businesses face a critical credit access crisis while major banks post record profits, indicating a systemic lending gap. Traditional banks have tightened credit requirements and reduced lending to SMEs, forcing small business owners to either stall growth or turn to expensive mobile loan alternatives with predatory terms. Current banking solutions fail because they prioritize low-risk corporate lending over small business growth, leaving an underserved market desperate for accessible capital.