About the MSME Data Portal
Understanding Kenya’s MSME Credit Landscape Through Data
The MSME Data Portal is an initiative of the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) designed to provide clear, accessible insights into Kenya’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Drawing on data from the Metropol Credit Reference Bureau, the platform offers a unique view of MSME financing patterns, credit performance, and participation across the country.
A key feature of the portal is its gender-disaggregated data, which highlights how women-owned and men-owned businesses access and use financial services. Through interactive dashboards and visual analytics, users can explore trends in credit, loan performance, and other indicators, supporting policymakers, financial institutions, and development partners to identify gaps, design targeted interventions, and promote inclusive growth.
By making high-quality MSME data openly available, the Kenya Bankers Association aims to strengthen evidence-based decision-making and contribute to a more resilient, equitable, and inclusive financial sector in Kenya.
Methodology at a glance
A compact map of how the dashboard turns CRB records into consistent MSME and gender insights.
Methodology
1. MSME Classification (Micro, Small, Medium)
Kenyan law defines MSMEs based on annual turnover. However, turnover data is not consistent. To ensure consistency and accuracy, the dashboard applies a structured classification process that uses turnover where available and loan size as a proxy where it is not.
1.1 MSME Thresholds
Based on the Micro and Small Enterprises Act (2012) and national MSME surveys, the turnover bands are:
Large Enterprises /Corporates exposures are removed using conservative criteria:
- Loans with annual turnover above KES 100 million, or
- Loans issued with a value above KES 100 million
2. Gender Classification
All dashboards classify borrowers using four gender categories:
- Female-Owned
- Male-Owned
- Jointly Owned
- Unknown
Gender is assigned as follows:
- Individual borrowers: The loan is attributed to the registered borrower’s gender.
- Businesses: A business is classified as:
- Female-Owned if women own at least 51%
- Male-Owned if men own at least 51%
- Jointly Owned if neither reaches 51%
- Unknown if ownership or gender data is unavailable
This classification is applied consistently across all gender-disaggregated dashboards.
3. Gender Gap Indicator
The dashboard highlights the gender gap, shown as Male minus Female.
For each selected metric (such as loan value, number of loans, or number of borrowers):
- Only Male-Owned and Female-Owned loans are included
- Joint and Unknown categories are excluded
- Shares are calculated for male-owned and female-owned portfolios
- The gender gap is the difference between these two shares and is presented in percentage points
4. Non-Performing Loan (NPL) Metrics
NPL indicators on the Loan Performance pages reflect the full loan portfolio in scope, not only MSME-specific products.
A loan is classified as non-performing if:
- It is 90 days or more in arrears, or
- It falls under prudential risk categories: Substandard, Doubtful, or Loss
Loan performance is grouped into five categories: Normal, Watch, Substandard, Doubtful, and Loss. These classifications form the basis of all NPL ratios and trends shown in the dashboard.
Prudential Risk Classification (NPL Status)
Definition of Key Terms
Loan StatusExpand
These terms describe the current state of a loan or credit facility:
- Closed – No more admin processes running such as instalment demands or interest charges to account, and no further facilities can be offered on this account.
- Dormant - no activity for 2 years. This applies for Overdraft/Current Accounts.
- Write-Off – For facilities that don’t form part of the outstanding portfolio in the Balance Sheet but are still outstanding in the books of accounts.
- Legal -with legal officer in court
- Collection- with collection bureau
- Active - For facilities that form part of the outstanding portfolio and are reported in the Balance Sheet.
- Facility Rescheduled – For Rescheduled/Restructured Facilities
- Settled – The facility has been cleared. This status can only be used for revolving facilities
- Called Up - The facility has been called up. Once the client has paid up, the status should be updated to Closed, Settled, or otherwise Client Deceased.
- Suspended – The facility has been put on hold for an indefinite period
- Client Deceased
- Deferred – This refers to facilities whose payments have been put on hold for a definite period or in moratorium (Grace Period)
- Not Updated – This status is reserved for CRBs (if last record status is not CLOSED)
- Disputed – Refers to a Record that the Client has disputed at the CRB. The account cannot be updated until the dispute is resolved
Prudential Risk Classification (NPL Status)Expand
Loan performance is assessed using standard prudential risk categories based on days past due:
- Normal: 0–30 days past due
- Watch: More than 30 up to 90 days past due
- Substandard: More than 90 up to 180 days past due
- Doubtful: More than 180 up to 360 days past due
- Loss: More than 360 days past due
Loans classified as Substandard, Doubtful, or Loss are treated as Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) in the dashboard.
Client TypeExpand
Borrowers are grouped into two main categories:
- Legal Clients: Fully registered businesses under the Business Registration Service (BRS).
- Individuals: Individuals who have accessed loans for business purposes.
Product TypeExpand
Business lending in the dashboard is grouped into three main product categories:
- Business Expansion Loans
- Trade Finance
- Business Working Capital
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