Feeling a little broke? Here are some means to an end

By , K24 Digital
On Mon, 20 May, 2019 14:33 | 3 mins read
Digital lending apps are leaving millions of Kenyans trapped in indebtedness, an expert has told the BBC. [PHOTO | COURTESY]
Kenya's Saccos are ranked the best in Africa. PHOTO | FILE
Kenya's Saccos are ranked the best in Africa. PHOTO | FILE


Are you short on cash? Feeling a little broke? Here are some means to an end. Put your broke days behind you.
Fuliza M-PESA

This is a service that allows only M-PESA customers to complete their M-PESA transactions when they have insufficient funds in their M-PESA account.


Mshwari 
Safaricom also have M-Shwari. In order to qualify for a loan all you need is to be an M-PESA subscriber for 6 months, save on M-Shwari and actively use other Safaricom services such as voice, data and M-PESA. To enquire how much you can borrow, go to M-Shwari, Loan, check Loan Limit. You can access loan limits from as low as Ksh.100 and up to Ksh.50,000.


KCB Mpesa
KCB Mpesa is a partnership between Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and Safaricom. It is a virtual mobile based bank account that allows customers to borrow micro loans between Ksh. 50 and Ksh. 1 M.

Branch
Branch is one of the best-rated loan apps in the country and you can access loans anywhere and anytime. You need the app and you need to fill their application form. The more you use it, the better your credit history is built. You also need an active Facebook account.


Tala
Tala provides credit on your mobile, on demand, instantly. It is the second best mobile loans provider with more than 100,000 downloads on Google Play store. Receive as little as Ksh2000 and as much as Ksh50,000. You can choose to pay at the end of the month or on 3 weekly instalments.
Saida Loans
To be eligible for this loan, you should be a user of mobile money serves like Mpesa, airtel money who makes and receives calls on a daily basis For this loan, the minimum amount you can borrow is Kshs.600 while the maximum is Kshs.100,000Repayment duration is 30 days.

Zawadi Loans
With Zawadi Kenya, you can apply for a loan online and get it the same day at no extra charge, it takes only two hours to get approval. The loan that you can be awarded is dependent on Zawadi's evaluation of your ability to repay. The only condition with Zawadi loans is that you must be employed to qualify for this loan. Visit the website  zawadikenya.co.ke to apply for the loan.

Timiza
Timiza is a digital banking platform launched by Barclays Bank of Kenya to offer instant online loans. You register by dialing *848# on your Safaricom line or download the Timiza application from the Google Play Store. You can get loans of up to Ksh. 150,000 payable in 30 days with an interest of 6.17 percent.


Shika loan
The application is available to Android mobile users but currently, it is only Safaricom subscribers who can use the loan service. Here, loan limits range from Ksh 500 to Kshs 20,00. The loans are charged a fixed facilitation fee rate of 15 percent once the amount is approved. The maximum loan repayment period is 30 days while failure to do so on time attracts a 10 percent rollover fee on top of the amount is owed.


Zidisha Loans
Zidisha refers to a peer to peer lending (P2P) method and a way for people and businesses to acquire small loans online in Kenya. The service does this by linking money lenders to borrowers in Kenya and across Africa. With Zidisha, the minimum loan limit is Ksh 10,000 with weekly and monthly repayment structures.


Utunzi
Utunzi enables clients to apply for loans ranging from ksh500 to ksh100, 000.bLoan approvals depend on a borrower’s credit score considering also the information provided in the sign-up questionnaire.

Haraka Loans
Haraka loan app offers Kenyan loans ranging between Ksh 500 and Ksh 5,000. To qualify for this, all you need is to sign up using your Facebook account and apply for a loan.
PesaZone Loans
You can borrow from Ksh 250 to Ksh 5,000 from the App and receive the cash via M-pesa from anywhere in Kenya without any securities.

Jazika
This is another app that can save you during emergencies and avoid costly bank overdraft fees and payday loans.

Go ahead and take a small loan and don’t forget that failure to pay leads to you being blacklisted by the CRB