The KKCF team has been working on a $10 million risk-sharing arrangement with Equity Bank Kenya, one of the largest banks in the region.
In March 2023, Equity Bank and IFC signed a partnership agreement to support the financial inclusion and lending activities to MSMEs in Kenya’s most vulnerable regions. Both organizations are working on a Risk Sharing Facility (“RSF”) aimed at expanding Equity Bank’s loan portfolio in 14 fragile counties in Kenya, including underserved refugees and host communities.
Equity will deploy enhanced lending facilities through the signing of a risk guarantee with IFC through its branches in Turkana, West Pokot, Marsabit, Samburu, Isiolo, Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Tana River, Lamu, Laikipia, Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, and Trans Nzoia.
This arrangement would offer a 50 percent loss cover against potential non-performing loans in the bank’s small and medium enterprise portfolio, specifically in Kakuma and the broader northern Kenya region. The total portfolio this would cover could reach up to $20 million.
About Equity Group Holdings
Equity Group Holdings (EGHL), is a Pan-African financial services holding company listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange, Uganda Securities Exchange, and Rwanda Stock Exchange. The Group has banking subsidiaries in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and DRC and a representative office in Ethiopia. It has other subsidiaries in investment banking, insurance, telecom, fintech and social impact investments. With over 18 million customers, the Group is one of the biggest banks in customer base in the region. The Group is the largest bank in market capitalization in East and Central Africa. Since 2008, the Group’s corporate foundation, Equity Group Foundation (EGF), has delivered humanitarian programs in Education and Leadership, Food and Agriculture, Social Protection, Health, Clean Energy and the Environment, Enterprise Development and Financial Inclusion to millions of Africans. EGF has a networked health care provider, Equity Afia which has been supporting COVID-19 relief effort