How Do I Clear My Name from CRB in Kenya?

Quick answer: To clear your name from CRB in Kenya, repay or settle the loan that caused the negative listing. The lender then updates the bureau and your status reflects as cleared, usually within a few days. If you need proof, apply for a CRB Clearance Certificate from your bureau, Metropol, TransUnion or Creditinfo, which costs KES 2,200 and is issued within 24 to 48 hours.

First, what being listed actually means

Kenya has three licensed Credit Reference Bureaus: Metropol, TransUnion and Creditinfo. A CRB does not keep a simple blacklist, it holds your credit history, both positive and negative. A negative listing happens when you default on a loan, and lenders read that record when deciding whether to lend. Clearing your name is really about settling the debt and then, if asked, proving you are clear.

Step 1: Repay or settle the debt

The listing comes from an unpaid loan, so the first and most important step is to clear what you owe to the lender that reported you, whether that is a bank, a SACCO or a digital app. If you cannot pay in full, ask about a repayment plan or a settlement, which our guide to asking for a repayment plan covers. Nothing clears until the underlying debt is dealt with.

Step 2: The lender updates the bureau

Once you have paid, the lender reports the cleared status to the bureau. This is not always instant, so confirm with the lender that they have submitted the update, then check again a few days later. It helps to check your own status first, which our guide on checking your CRB status walks through.

Step 3: Get a Clearance Certificate, if you need proof

A Clearance Certificate is a document proving you have no adverse listing. Employers and some lenders ask for it. It costs KES 2,200 from any of the three bureaus and is normally issued within 24 to 48 hours of payment. Apply directly with whichever bureau holds your record:

• Metropol: dial *433# on the Safaricom line registered to your ID, use the Crystobol app, or apply through the Metropol Crystobol portal.
• TransUnion: send your full name by SMS to 21272, use the Nipashe app, or apply on the TransUnion Kenya website.
• Creditinfo: apply online through the Creditinfo clearance certificate page and pay by M-Pesa.

To apply you generally need your National ID or passport, a mobile number registered to your ID, your M-Pesa details for the KES 2,200 fee, and in some cases your KRA PIN.

If your report is still not clear

If you have paid but the listing still shows, it is usually because the lender has not submitted the update, or there is an error on your report. Go back to the lender for confirmation, and if an entry is genuinely wrong, raise a dispute with the bureau to have it corrected. A listing that is correct but settled shows as paid rather than vanishing, which is normal and is not the same as an unpaid default. Be wary of anyone who asks for a fee to simply delete a genuine listing.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to clear your name from CRB?

Settling the loan costs whatever you owe the lender. The CRB Clearance Certificate, which proves you are clear, costs KES 2,200 from Metropol, TransUnion or Creditinfo.

How long does it take to clear CRB?

After you repay, the lender updates the bureau within a few days. A Clearance Certificate is usually issued within 24 to 48 hours of paying for it.

Do I pay the bureau to be removed from CRB?

You pay the lender what you owe to settle the debt. You do not pay the bureau to be removed; you only pay KES 2,200 if you want a Clearance Certificate as proof.

Which CRB am I listed with?

It depends on which bureau your lender reports to. Check with Metropol, TransUnion and Creditinfo, or ask the lender that listed you which bureau they use.