What’s a Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) in Kenya

The credit reference bureau (CRB) is a company licenced by central bank of Kenya to collect, store and collate credit information on individuals and companies from different sources and provide the information in form of a credit report upon the request of a lender.

A certificate of a clearance is a document that confirms that currently a customer does not have a non- performing account. When a customer has a historical negative listing, a lender ask for a certificate of clearance (COC) from the CRB. This is meant to give the borrower peace of mind. A COC is required to present to a lender after being adversely listed, to apply for employment etc. 

A COC is valid as at the date of issue. This is because CRBs receive information on a daily basis which could alter the customer information.  A COC cost ksh 2200 which is payable through mpesa or to the CRB bank account