Publication: The Kenya Rural Enterprise Program : Directing Credit to Low-Income Groups
Date
1997-02
ISSN
Published
1997-02
Author(s)
Pederson, Glenn D.
Kiiru, Washington K.
Abstract
The lack of credit facilities in
Kenya's rural areas is a significant obstacle to
building a sustainable rural financial market. A recent
estimate placed the gap between the level of credit supplied
and the effective demand for credit at some Ksh. 57 billion.
The Government of Kenya has, since the early 1990s, shown an
interest in the development of small-scale and
micro-enterprises. The Kenya Rural Enterprise Program
(K-REP) was established in 1984 as an intermediary Non
Government Organization (NGO), providing credit for on
lending and technical assistance to other NGOs. To promote
growth and generate employment in the micro-enterprise
sector, K-REP lends to clients who would otherwise find it
extremely difficult to access credit from commercial banks
and other formal financial institutions. Its operations are
currently concentrated in Nairobi, Nyeri, Eldoret and Embu.
Kenya Rural Enterprise Program: case study of a
micro-finance scheme documents K-REP's innovations and
performance, and provides some insight on how to improve
micro-finance programs.
Citation
“Pederson, Glenn D.; Kiiru, Washington K.. 1997. The Kenya Rural Enterprise Program : Directing Credit to Low-Income Groups. Africa Region Findings & Good Practice Infobriefs; No. 61. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/041770ec-1a77-5256-b325-9453e75e84c9 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”