Pesapal, Sokohela Launch New SME Credit Product

Pesapal, a payment gateway company, has partnered with Sokohela, a digital credit provider licensed by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), to launch a new credit product for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Kenya.

Pesapal said the loan product will offer fast and flexible financing solutions for SMEs that face challenges in accessing credit from traditional sources.

“SMEs are the engine of our economy, but they often face difficulty accessing credit due to high-interest rates, stringent collateral requirements, lengthy procedures, and lack of financial records. We understand these challenges and have partnered with Sokohela to address them. We’re all about our merchants being confident with their financial decisions and becoming world-class at what they do – regardless of their size,” Pesapal’s Founder, Agosta Liko said.

Pesapal Sokohela loan offers SMEs various benefits, including digital scoring, approval, and disbursement of loans. It provides competitive interest rates, flexible repayment terms of up to 12 months, and requires no collateral or guarantor. The loan ensures transparent pricing without hidden fees or charges and allows online application and management through the Pesapal Platform.

Sokohela’s CEO, Nickson Onyango, said that the partnership with Pesapal is a strategic move to leverage Pesapal’s extensive network of merchants and customers across various sectors, such as hospitality, retail, education, and travel.

“Our partnership is a testament to the power of collaboration in driving innovation and growth in Africa’s digital economy. We are confident we will unlock new capital streams for SMEs, enabling them to scale efficiently. We are excited to partner with Pesapal, a trusted and reputable payment service provider in Kenya. Together, we aim to reach out to more SMEs and offer them convenient and affordable credit solutions that suit their needs. We believe that by doing this, we are supporting SMEs and our country’s social and economic development,” Onyango said.

The Merchant Credit solution is powered by Pesapal’s proprietary credit scoring algorithm that analyzes the transaction data of SMEs from various sources, such as mobile money, e-commerce platforms and POS systems. This allows Sokohela to offer customized and affordable loans to SMEs based on their cash flow and business performance.