Kenya's Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) has imposed fines totaling KES 9.3 million ($63,500) on three entities to crack down on the abuse of user data by digital lenders. Mulla Pride Ltd, operating KeCredit and Faircash, received a KES 2.9 million ($20,000) penalty for using personal information obtained from third parties to intimidate borrowers into loan repayment. Notably, Mulla Pride Ltd lacks a license to operate as a digital credit provider. This move aims to ensure data subjects are informed and protected in the online lending sector, which had seen predatory practices due to a lack of regulation.

- The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) has fined three entities a total of KES 9.3 million ($63,500) to enforce sanity in the online lending space in the country.

- Mulla Pride Ltd used personal contact information from third parties to shame borrowers into paying their loans.

- The penalty is interesting because Mulla Pride Ltd has not received a license to operate as a digital credit provider, and its two lenders, KeCredit and Faircash, do not appear in the approved list by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).

- Kenya has a list of registered 32 digital lenders, including Branch, Tala, and Zenka.

- Kenya's unregulated online lending industry allowed loan apps to harass people for years, prompting the Data Protection Act, 2019, to address data abuse and protect borrowers.

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