Nairobi, February 20, 2026: Banking industry umbrella body Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) and Caritas Microfinance Bank (Caritas MFB) have entered a three-year partnership aimed at boosting financial literacy, entrepreneurship skills, and access to credit for Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) across the country.
The collaboration is designed to bridge the gap between financial education and access to finance, reinforcing the key role MSMEs play in driving Kenya’s economic growth and aligning with the banking industry’s collective commitment to lend Sh300 billion in new loans annually to the sector over the next three years.
Under the agreement, Caritas MFB projects to scale-up of its MSME impact, targeting the training of over 200,000 small business owners annually through financial literacy and capacity-building programs. The bank has also committed to advancing loans totaling Sh10 billion to MSMEs over the 2026–2028 period.
KBA Chief Executive Officer Raimond Molenje affirmed the industry’s commitment to supporting the growth of small businesses as engines of economic development, noting that over 90 percent of businesses in the country are MSMEs.
“Through our Centre for Sustainable Finance and Enterprise Development (CSFED), we are focused on de-risking the MSME sector to unlock greater access to affordable finance. By combining entrepreneurial education with tangible capital, we are fortifying the backbone of our economy,” said Mr. Molenje.
Caritas Microfinance Bank Chief Executive Officer David Mukaru emphasized the bank’s commitment to enterprise transformation.
“MSMEs are not just the engine of our economy; they are the lifeline for millions of Kenyan households. By delivering both the financial expertise and the funding they require, we are empowering businesses and the communities they support. This partnership with KBA allows us to amplify that impact on a national scale,” said Mr. Mukaru.
With a current customer base of over 30,000 MSMEs served through ten branches and two marketing offices across Nairobi, Kiambu, Nyeri, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, and Homa Bay counties, the partnership aims to deepen the bank’s reach into key economic regions.
As part of the initiative, KBA will deploy a specialized Training of Trainers (ToT) program to equip selected Caritas MFB staff with advanced facilitation skills. The trainers will then roll out direct, face-to-face financial literacy sessions to MSMEs across the bank’s branch network and targeted counties. Participants will further benefit from linkages to KBA’s MSME Inuka Enterprise Accelerator Program and other specialized initiatives, ensuring sustained mentorship and growth support beyond the initial training.
Impact measurement will be central to the partnership, with key performance indicators tracking the number of MSMEs trained against the volume of loans disbursed. Beyond the curriculum, the collaboration provides for post-training mentorship, coaching, and the establishment of digital communities to facilitate networking and peer learning among entrepreneurs.
Oversight will be managed by a Joint Management Committee (JMC) responsible for coordinating activities and monitoring project milestones. Both institutions have also reaffirmed their commitment to the Kenya Data Protection Act, 2019, ensuring the highest standards of confidentiality and security for all participant data throughout the program lifecycle.
Media Contacts
Christine Onyango
Director, Communication and Public Affairs
Kenya Bankers Association
Email: conyango@kba.co.ke
About Kenya Bankers Association
The Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) is the umbrella body for all commercial banks in Kenya and is regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). Established on 16th July 1962, KBA represents 46 member institutions with combined assets exceeding KES 7.7 trillion. Its core mandate is to promote a stable, competitive, and inclusive banking industry by influencing legislation, regulation, and policy to enhance access to affordable credit for individuals, households, and businesses. KBA also drives financial sector development through strategic initiatives, including the launch of Pesalink, the industry’s first peer-to-peer digital payments platform. In partnership with the CBK and other stakeholders, KBA has spearheaded projects such as the modernization of the National Payments System, implementation of the Real Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS), and the Kenya Credit Information Sharing Initiative. Guided by its brand statement, “One Industry. Transforming Kenya,” KBA continues to strengthen the banking sector, foster innovation, drive financial inclusion, and support national economic growth. Learn more: www.kba.co.ke
About Caritas Microfinance Bank
Caritas Microfinance Bank is a deposit-taking microfinance institution licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). It was founded by the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi and officially launched in June 2015. The bank is founded on a strong Catholic foundation and upholds strong family values and serve clients with care, dignity and honesty. Its roots trace back to 1983, when Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga (the first African Bishop in Kenya) began addressing socio-economic needs of families through Caritas initiatives in parishes like Our Lady of Fatima Kiriko. This evolved through Caritas Self-Help Groups and the Archdiocese’s strategic plan (2009–2013), which recognized the link between financial access and poverty reduction, leading to the establishment of the bank.The bank has been voted the Fastest Growing Microfinance Bank in Kenya for 5 consecutive years in a row (Think Business Banking Awards 2018 – 2022). In addition, the bank was voted the Overall Best Microfinance Bank in Kenya in the year 2022 (Think Business Banking Awards). The awards affirm our commitment in providing up scaled financial services that support our communities under a focused faith-based business model. The bank focuses on ethical, inclusive financial services to empower households, communities, and small enterprises, with a vision “To become the preferred household bank”
