Kenya recruitment · 3 min read
CRB clearance certificate for a job in Kenya: free the first time
What a credit reference bureau clearance shows, the licensed bureaus, your free credit report each year, and how to fix a wrong listing.
Many public employers and some banks ask for a CRB clearance certificate. It comes from a private credit reference bureau, not a government office, but the bureaus are licensed and supervised by the Central Bank of Kenya. Here is what the CRB Regulations, 2020 give you, including a free first certificate.
What a CRB clearance shows
Lenders such as banks, microfinance banks and regulated SACCOs share information about borrowers with credit reference bureaus. A clearance certificate states that the bureau holds no negative listing against you, or that a past default has been settled.
Since the 2020 regulations, lenders do not submit negative information on non-performing loans below KSh 1,000, according to the Central Bank of Kenya.
The licensed bureaus
The Central Bank's directory of November 2022 lists three licensed bureaus: Credit Reference Bureau Africa Limited, trading as TransUnion, Creditinfo Credit Reference Bureau Kenya Limited, and Metropol Credit Reference Bureau Limited. Use one of these, and check the current CBK list before you pay anyone.
Your rights under the 2020 regulations
- A bureau shall not, in the first instance, charge any fee for a clearance certificate issued to a person for any purpose. The Central Bank said this was meant particularly for young people and graduates seeking jobs.
- You are entitled to a copy of your credit report from each bureau at no charge at least once a year, within thirty days of being refused credit because of your report, and once every six months after asking for wrong information to be corrected (regulation 37(3)).
- A bureau must give you the report within five working days of your request (regulation 37(4)).
- A bureau must accept, without charge, information you file to correct or challenge what it holds about you.
If you are listed
- Get your free report first and find out which lender listed you and for how much.
- If the debt is real, settle it or agree a plan with the lender in writing, and ask the lender to update the bureau.
- If the listing is wrong, file a dispute with the bureau and keep the reference. Filing it is free.
- Apply for the clearance certificate once the update shows in your report.
Sources and further reading
Explore this topic
Frequently asked questions
Is the CRB clearance certificate free in Kenya?
The first one is. The Credit Reference Bureau Regulations, 2020 say a bureau shall not, in the first instance, charge any fee for a clearance certificate.
Which CRBs are licensed in Kenya?
The Central Bank's November 2022 directory lists TransUnion (Credit Reference Bureau Africa), Creditinfo and Metropol. Check the current CBK list.
Can I get my credit report for free?
Yes, from each bureau at least once a year, and in some other cases set out in regulation 37(3).