How to Check Your CRB Status in Kenya for Free 2026

Every Kenyan is entitled to one free CRB credit report per year by law. Most people only discover they are listed when a loan application is rejected. Check yours today before it costs you.

What Is CRB and Why It Matters in Kenya

CRB stands for Credit Reference Bureau. These are private companies licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya to collect and share credit information about borrowers. Banks, mobile lenders, SACCOs, and increasingly employers all check your CRB status before approving applications.

Which CRBs Operate in Kenya in 2026

CRB	Website	SMS/USSD
Metropol CRB	metropol.co.ke	SMS ‘CRB’ to 22199
TransUnion Kenya	transunion.co.ke	USSD *433#
Creditinfo Kenya	creditinfo.co.ke	Via website only

How to Get Your Free Annual CRB Report

Under the Credit Reference Bureau Regulations, you are entitled to one free report per year from each bureau. Here is how to claim it from Metropol, the most widely used:

Send an SMS with your full name and ID number to 22199
You will receive a reference number via SMS
Go to metropol.co.ke and enter your reference number
Download your full credit report at no charge

For TransUnion, dial *433# and follow the prompts. The free annual report covers your full credit history.

How to Check Your CRB Status via SMS — Quick Check

For a quick status check (not the full report), Metropol offers a paid SMS check at KSh 50:

Send your National ID number to 22199
You will receive a response within minutes showing your status
Status will show as either Positive, Listed or No Record

What a Negative Listing Means for You

Automatic rejection for most bank loans and overdrafts
Mobile loan limits reduced or suspended by Fuliza, KCB M-PESA, and others
SACCO loan applications flagged for review
Some employers now reject job applicants with active CRB listings
Government tender applications can be blocked

How to Clear Your Name from CRB Kenya

First, pay off the outstanding debt that caused the listing
Get a clearance letter from the lender confirming payment
Submit the clearance letter to the CRB that lists you
The CRB must update your record within 30 days of receiving proof
Request a new credit report to confirm the listing is removed

Important: The lender—not you— must instruct the CRB to remove the listing. If a lender refuses to do so after you have paid, report them to the Central Bank of Kenya.

How Long Does a CRB Listing Stay on Your Record

Listing Type	Duration on Record
Negative listing (unpaid)	Until paid + 5 years
Negative listing (paid)	5 years from date of clearance
Positive history	Permanent (helps your score)