Financial resilience is the defining story of Kenya’s credit access

About 89 percent of Kenyan households report that rising costs are directly affecting their budgets, with one in five Kenyans indicating a significant worsening of their financial situation in the past six months. Financial pressure is primarily driven by the cost of living, accounting for 49 percent, while income instability contributes 26 percent. In response, 59 percent of Kenyans are actively cutting back on expenses, and 46 percent are now using loans to supplement their income, indicating a shift towards using credit to manage emergencies rather than pursue opportunities.