Mobile money-lenders bring Kenyans relief … and crushing debt
Almost one-fifth of mobile-banking borrowers in Kenya defaulted in 2018
22 August 2019 - 14:01
Nairobi — With no bank account to his name, J Barasa still found a lender to finance his passion for gambling on soccer. All it took was a few clicks on his phone and his willingness to pay annual interest of more than 150%.
The Nairobi taxi driver represents the new frontier in the market for mobile money, the universe where banking is done over the phone. Its proliferation is making it easier than ever to borrow, marrying convenience to need and creating a level of stress that only crushing debt can produce...
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