CIS Kenya Rolls Out ValiData Tool to Boost Credit Data Quality
CIS Kenya Rolls Out ValiData Tool to Boost Credit Data Quality
A Milestone for Kenya’s Credit Market
The Credit Information Sharing Association of Kenya (CIS Kenya) has launched the CIS ValiData Tool at the Sarova Stanley Hotel. The event brought together leaders from the financial sector.
The launch follows approval of the tool by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), marking a new chapter in credit data management.
The CIS ValiData Tool is an on-premise solution. It enables banks, microfinance institutions, SACCOs, and digital lenders to validate their credit data before sending it to Credit Reference Bureaus (CRBs).
Acting as a “data proofreader,” it enforces a minimum 80% data quality threshold. As a result, only accurate and standardized information enters the credit reporting system.
Voices from the Industry
CIS Kenya CEO Jared Getenga said the launch crowns a journey of more than 10 years. “We innovated a solution that places the burden of data cleanup in the hands of information providers. This strengthens ownership of data quality in-house,” he explained.
CIS Kenya Rolls Out ValiData Tool to Boost Credit Data Quality
Kenya Bankers Association CEO Raimond Molenje also highlighted the tool’s value. “We see the ValiData as the clean fuel that powers the Risk-Based Credit Pricing Model,” he said. “Accurate data will mean fairer loan pricing for first-time borrowers, women and youth-owned MSMEs, and the informal sector.”
In addition, Adah Mukubi, CIS Kenya’s Head of Communications and Partnerships, called the launch a product of teamwork.
“This milestone underscores our commitment to building a smarter, more transparent, and inclusive credit ecosystem for Kenya,” she noted.
Phased Rollout and Wider Impact
The rollout will begin with commercial banks and microfinance banks. They will now submit their data exclusively through the ValiData platform. Later, Digital Credit Providers and SACCOs will also join the system.
Representing CRBs, Creditinfo Group CEO Kamau Kunyiha praised the initiative. “By standardizing data quality at the point of submission, the tool will streamline processes. It will also improve the accuracy of credit scoring models,” he said.
Furthermore, the project was made possible by collaboration with key partners. These include the Central Bank of Kenya, the National Treasury, the Office of the Data Commissioner, FSD Kenya, the Gates Foundation, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Demonstrations and Discussions
The event featured a live demo. NCBA Bank and Branch International submitted data in real time to all three licensed CRBs.
A panel discussion followed under the theme “From Credit Information to Information for Credit – The Role of Data Quality.”
Panelists included the CEOs of the three CRBs, a KBA representative, and Juliet Ongwae from the University of Cambridge Suptech Lab.
