Kenyan youths have been accused of exploiting weaknesses in Zambian mobile lending platforms to borrow millions through digital lending loopholes.
According to reports, some users are taking advantage of gaps in verification and lending controls within mobile loan applications operating in Zambia.
“Kenyan sharp boys have hijacked Zambian loan apps and are siphoning loans worth millions of Kwachas, exploiting the unregulated Lozi lenders which are not registered by the Bank of Zambia and local CRB,” read part of a social media claim.
The users are reportedly able to increase borrowing limits after initial transactions, raising concerns over system vulnerabilities.
Further, allegations indicate that weak identity checks and limited integration with credit reference systems may be enabling repeated borrowing and potential misuse of the mobile apps in Zambia.
Kenyan Youth Hack Zambian Mobile Banking Apps
According to Kenyans, the alleged exploitation is driven by gaps in Know Your Customer (KYC) verification processes, which allow users to register and access loans using mobile numbers.
In addition, KYC helps identify details that may not be effectively tracked across platforms.
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Kenyans have also claimed that some users can repeatedly register new accounts, allowing them to access additional loans beyond normal borrowing limits.
“Sharp boys are benefiting in Zambia. Their loan apps are very flexible. Take 100 ZMW (about 670 KES), repay it, and from there you can borrow up to 5,000 ZMW. Just make sure the mobile number and NRC number you buy have not been used to take another loan.”
The allegations have raised questions about the level of regulation in Zambia’s digital lending sector, with claims that some mobile loan apps are not fully integrated with national credit reference systems or are not strictly registered under financial regulatory frameworks.
Additionally, critics argue that such gaps may expose lenders to financial losses and increase the risk of fraudulent borrowing in the rapidly growing mobile credit market across the world.
Kenya leads East Africa in Mobile Money Usage As More Adults Borrow Digitally
Elsewhere, Kenya is among the East African nations leading Africa in mobile money adoption, with a growing number of adults using digital accounts for saving, borrowing, and everyday transactions.
Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for nearly two-thirds of global mobile money growth, with Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania emerging as the top users of these services.
Globally, mobile money accounts reached 2.3 billion in 2025, with Africa contributing the largest share.
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This expansion has been accompanied by a rise in mobile-based loans, as more borrowers bypass banks and traditional financial institutions.
Saving through mobile platforms has also become an increasingly popular alternative to conventional banking.
According to the State of Industry report by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), mobile money borrowing accounted for about 60 percent of all formal borrowing in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2024.
In Kenya, 32 percent of adults took loans through a mobile money provider, including 25 percent who borrowed exclusively via mobile money rather than from banks, saccos, or microfinance institutions.
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