NAIROBI, Kenya 2nd November Ngao Credit has expanded its physical footprint with four new regional branches in Embu, Malindi, Kitale and Machakos, seeking to meet growing demand for accessible financing among businesses, traders, farmers and salaried professionals.
The expansion, under the lender’s Ngao Mtaani initiative, is designed to reduce the distance customers travel to access credit and other financial services while strengthening the company’s reach into regional economic hubs.
The new branches will provide access to the lender’s financing solutions, including local financing, asset financing and import finance, including import duty financing, enabling businesses to access capital closer to their places of operation.
Ngao Credit Country Sales Agency Manager, Francis Mwangi, said the expansion responds to demand from customers in the four markets and reflects the company’s strategy of bringing financial services closer to underserved communities.
“The idea behind this expansion is to reduce the hassles our clients face when travelling long distances to access credit. We want financial services to be easily accessible by bringing our services closer to where our clients work and live,” said Mwangi.
The lender is targeting businesses that need working capital to sustain operations, acquire assets and take advantage of emerging opportunities in their respective markets. The expansion also seeks to serve customers who may struggle to qualify for credit from traditional lending institutions.
Mwangi said the choice of these locations reflects the distinct economic activities driving demand for credit in each region. Embu offers opportunities in agriculture and agribusiness, where farmers, traders and other value-chain players require financing to support production and trade. In Malindi, the lender is targeting businesses operating across tourism, trade and the blue economy.
Kitale’s agricultural and trading economy presents opportunities to finance farmers, merchants and related enterprises, while Machakos provides another regional base from which the lender can serve businesses and professionals.
“We want to become part and parcel of our clients’ success stories by providing financing that helps them unlock these opportunities and move their businesses forward,” he said.
The expansion comes as access to affordable and appropriate credit remains a key consideration for small and medium-sized enterprises, which often require financing to manage cash flow, acquire equipment and respond to market demand.
The lender said its approach is built around long-term customer relationships rather than individual lending transactions. According to the Country Sales Agency Manager, referrals account for approximately 70 per cent of the lender’s KSh1.3 billion loan portfolio, which he cited as evidence of the relationships the company has established with customers.
“Seventy per cent of our KSh1.3 billion portfolio comes through referrals. That speaks to the relationships we are building with our customers and the confidence they have in our services,” Mwangi said.
The lender is also leveraging digital channels through the Ngao app, which enables customers to access credit remotely, complementing its expanding physical branch network. The combination of digital access and regional branches is intended to make the customer journey more convenient, from initial engagement and onboarding to post-disbursement support.
“Our focus is to grow businesses and improve livelihoods across the communities we serve. We do not view every business as just a transaction, we build relationships and walk with our clients through different stages of their growth,” he said.
The four branches mark Ngao Credit’s next phase of domestic expansion, with the lender indicating that it intends to extend its reach further as demand develops.
The company said it will prioritise strengthening its presence and delivering value to businesses across Kenya before pursuing opportunities beyond the country.
“The new branches are a beginning, not an end point. Demand from customers in these areas has informed our decision to expand, and we want to build on this momentum by ensuring our services deliver meaningful value to businesses and communities,” Mwangi said.
