Google Has Suspended Hundreds Of Unlicensed Loan Apps In Kenya

The regulations state that any digital lender that is yet to get a licence from CBK can receive an interim approval for Google which is only valid for 45 days. Once the period lapses, the company should either have received the approval or file a declaration that its permit was still pending.

However, if the company failed to do so, its interim approval will be rescinded and it will be removed from the app store.

The unregulated loan app business has been booming across most countries. However, the exorbitant interest rates and predatory practices employed by the companies to exact the loan amount has tarnished the reputation of the particular digital sector.

The situation has become so dire that the Central Bank of Kenya issued a warning to mobile loan providers in 2019, urging them to cap their interest rates and refrain from using aggressive debt collection tactics. However, the warnings seem to have fallen on deaf ears, as many loan providers continued with their predatory practices.

This is where Google’s action comes in. In a statement, the tech giant announced that it had removed several loan apps from the Google Play Store for violating its policies on loan repayment terms and debt collection practices. Google stated that the loan apps in question had been found to be taking advantage of vulnerable borrowers, engaging in misleading and exploitative lending practices, and using aggressive debt collection tactics.

This move by Google is commendable and is likely to have a significant impact on the Kenyan mobile loan industry. Without access to the Google Play Store, loan providers will find it difficult to reach new borrowers, and those who have already downloaded the apps will not receive updates or security patches. This means that borrowers who use these loan apps are likely to be exposed to security risks, such as identity theft, and will have no recourse if their data is compromised.

In conclusion, Google’s suspension of several mobile loan apps in Kenya is a step in the right direction towards addressing the problem of predatory lending practices in the country. However, more needs to be done to protect vulnerable borrowers from these exploitative practices. The Kenyan government and regulators need to work together to ensure that loan providers are held accountable for their actions and that borrowers are protected from abusive lending practices.