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Article•01/09/2026

Banks, Saccos, investors: 7 money sources you haven't explored

Here are 7 financing sources you probably haven't explored:


💰 1. Private debt: a loan without property collateral

  • Unlike banks, private debt funds look at your cash flow, not your assets .
  • If your business is profitable with strong growth potential, you can get financing structured around your cash flow.
  • FSD Africa is preparing a Sh10 billion debt fund for Kenyan SMEs .


🏦 2. Saccos: not just for salaried workers

  • Joining two Saccos allows you to access larger loans while continuing to save .
  • Univision Sacco offers Biashara loans up to KES 5 million with a simple guarantee deposit .
  • Boresha SACCO (Mount Kenya region) offers loans from 30,000 to 6 million KES at 12.5% p.a. .


📱 3. Digital lenders: credit at the tap of a button

  • CBK has licensed 227 Digital Credit Providers who have already issued 7.5 million loans worth Sh133.5 billion .
  • Companies like Tala, Branch, and KCB M-PESA assess your creditworthiness via M-Pesa transactions, not collateral.
  • No banking history needed. Your phone is enough.


🇰🇪 4. Hustler Fund: unsecured loans

  • Simple, fast, and without collateral. A personal loan from 500 to 50,000 KES at 8% per annum .
  • The "bridge loan" for good borrowers offers 30 days repayment vs the usual 14 days .
  • Millions of Kenyans already use it to fund their businesses.


💻 5. DigiKen + Co-op Bank: digital enterprise funding

  • UNCDF and Co-operative Bank signed a Sh233 million risk-sharing agreement to fund digital SMEs and youth entrepreneurs .
  • This money targets businesses that don't fit traditional criteria but are commercially viable.
  • A pipeline of 150 "investment-ready" enterprises is being developed.


🌾 6. Specialised agricultural funds

  • NRS DT Sacco offers Kilimo loans up to 2 million KES for agriculture (dairy, aquaculture, greenhouses, etc.) .
  • The Kenya Post-Harvest Solar Cooling Programme funds solar-powered storage infrastructure for agricultural cooperatives .


🕌 7. Islamic (Sharia-compliant) finance

  • Almasi Financial Services finances transport and construction without interest, via a leasing system (Ijara) .
  • No early settlement fees. No late penalties (unless donated to charity).
  • The Islamic sector already holds KES 92 billion in assets with 608,000 bank accounts.


Tip: The Hustler Fund builds a credit score (A1 to C3) that serves as your "banking reputation" for future loan applications .


Do it now: Dial *254# on your phone and check your Hustler Fund score. If it's good, apply for a Bridge loan right now.


Sources: CBK – Digital Credit Providers Report 2026; UNCDF – DigiKen Programme 2026; FSD Africa – Impact Report 2025; Almasi Financial Services – Islamic Finance Report 2025.


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