Company profile
Watu Credit Limited
Watu Credit Limited is a Kenya-incorporated non-bank asset financier providing pay-as-you-go financing for two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and smartphones to entrepreneurs in underserved markets across Africa and Latin America. Founded in October 2015 by Andris Kaneps, the company operates via Watu Holdings Limited (Mauritius) across ten countries, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, DRC, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Brazil, and Mexico, financing over six million loans since inception. Watu Credit Limited is the principal Kenya operating entity and holds a Central Bank of Kenya non-deposit-taking credit provider licence issued 5 June 2025. Key sub-brands include Watu Simu (smartphone BNPL) and Watu Gari (car financing).
- Sector
- Financial services / Consumer Lending, BNPL Providers, MSME Lending
- Markets
- South Africa, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Nigeria, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Founded
- 2015
- Ownership
- Private
- Stage
- Scale-up
- Capital raised
- $51m
- Employees
- 500+
- Business model
- B2C Financial Services
Products and services
Motorcycle Financing (boda boda/two-wheeler), Three-Wheeler (tuk-tuk) Financing, Watu Simu (smartphone BNPL financing), Watu Gari (car financing), EV Financing & Watu Shule (road safety training)
Transactions
| Date | Transaction | Type | Value | Market |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Sep 2026 | AHL Venture Partners invests USD 7 million in Watu's operations in Kenya | Venture Capital | $7m | Rwanda |
Source: Partner Researchers.