KENYANS CLAIM TO BE HARASSED BY LOAN LENDING MOBILE APPS DURING RETRIVAL
Kenyans have outcried the harrasment of loan lending agents.
Shakil Omondi
Have you ever loaned some cash from an online lending app? What was your experience during the loan retrieval process? Many Kenyans have expressed frustration and embarrassments caused by the loaning agencies. During a feature story on Citizen TV called “Debt of Shame” Kenyans expressed the harassment where by the loan agents would call you and if you try to ignore them they would call your guarantors concurrently. Though some of the methods deployed by the loan collectors are illegal, Kenyans still thirsted for loans as an estimate of Ksh. 1.2Billion loans are taken daily in 2020.
Someone accesing loan statement on his/her phone photo courtesy
On the feature Pastor John Kimani Ngure who was amongst a guarantor to one of his congregants narrated his experience with the loan agents. He stated that the lenders wouldn’t tire calling him stating that he should tell the loanee to pay. The agent was rude and even went ahead to tell the pastor that he should record him. When pastor’s wife tried to intervene the agent said that she wasn’t the guarantor and that she should shut up and “ panda mbegu polepole”.
When one loanee Mr. Mike Atira was interviewed he said that the reason as to why he defaulted to pay the loans he had accumulated was because of the hard economic times. He narrated his experience saying that most of the loan agents were calling his fiancée for him to pay the loan. The reason for this is because before one is to access a loan he/she do give the agents permission to access his/her contacts, location and even photos. “Some of the apps do demand your selfie hence having even your photo,’’ Atira said. Atira added that the reason for him taking the loans was because of the Covid pandemic and that he had completed school and had no work.
When the Chair Digital Lenders Association Kevin Mutiso was interviewed he sided with Kenyans stating that there are two rogue actors who are known for shaming those they lend to and that they had been reported. The feature also claimed that many Kenyans had to forego daily meals so as to repay the loans.
Many of the Kenyans always opt to loans so as to cater for some bills as they aren’t that bulk. Those interviewed who use it for business have said that they do repay as they rely on it to fund their business stocks. But all said and done when one is to procure a loan he/she should consider understanding the terms and conditions before procuring a loan from the online agents.
