Kenyan Banks’ DRC Assets Cross Sh1 Trillion

Kenyan banks have amassed assets in excess of Sh1 trillion in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as of 2025, according to data from the Central Bank of Kenya's Bank Supervision Annual Report. This represents a significant growth from Sh933.4 billion in assets held in the DRC the previous year. The expansion of Kenyan banks in the DRC reflects their broader push to establish a presence beyond the domestic market and deepen their foothold across Africa.

The DRC alone accounted for around 41% of the total assets held by Kenyan banks operating outside the country in seven markets, including Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan and Mauritius. Uganda held the second-largest asset base among these countries, with Kenyan banks controlling Sh415.9 billion, followed by Rwanda with Sh396.2 billion.

Tanzania held assets worth Sh359.9 billion, while Mauritius recorded Sh186.9 billion. South Sudan and Burundi had smaller asset bases of Sh62.9 billion and Sh28.4 billion, respectively. These assets encompass various financial instruments such as cash reserves, customer loans, securities and physical property. The growth in Kenyan banks' assets in the DRC can be attributed to strategic acquisitions that have enabled major lenders to establish or reinforce their market presence in one of Africa's largest economies.

Equity Group, for instance, owns an 85% stake in Equity BCDC, a banking institution formed following the merger of Equity Bank Congo and Banque Commerciale du Congo (BCDC). Similarly, KCB Group expanded its DRC operations by acquiring an 85% stake in Trust Merchant Bank (TMB) in 2022, providing the Kenyan bank group with a substantial stake in the DRC.