Kingdom Bank plants 25th branch in Nairobi’s enterprise belt
Kingdom Bank Managing Director and CEO Anthony Mburu (left) during the official opening of lender’s Kariobangi branch in Nairobi.
Kingdom Bank is deepening its roots in Nairobi’s vibrant enterprise belt with the opening of its 25th branch in Kariobangi, a hub known for its industrious network of fabricators, traders, and small-scale manufacturers.
The new branch, located on the ground floor of Marphic Ark Hotel along Outering Road, brings the bank closer to the thousands of entrepreneurs who power the city’s informal economy. Kingdom Bank Managing Director and CEO Anthony Mburu says the expansion aligns with the bank’s long-term strategy to strengthen its footprint in Kenya’s most dynamic business hubs.
“Kariobangi represents the true spirit of Kenya’s enterprise — hardworking people who keep Nairobi running every single day,” he said. “By opening our 25th branch here, we are deepening our connection with the business communities that drive our economy. Our goal is to be a financial partner who is accessible and available to support growth.”
The move taps into an emerging trend that is quietly reshaping Kenya’s banking landscape. According to the latest KPMG Banking Industry Customer Satisfaction Survey, branch experience ranks high– 47 per cent — among reasons why customers choose their preferred banking channel, this is as charges and rates ranked lowest at just 6 per cent according to the report. The report underscores a simple but powerful insight: despite the convenience of digital banking, customers still value human connection and quality service above cost.
“This implies that customers’ sensitivity to charges and costs is low, and they rank customer experience over and above the cost it takes to access services via a given channel,” KPMG noted.
Indeed, while mobile apps remain the most used banking interface at 42 per cent, physical branches come second at 24 per cent — a striking revelation in an era that was once forecast to be purely digital. The study challenges the assumption that bank halls are obsolete, instead showing that personal engagement continues to be a defining factor of trust, especially for withdrawals, deposits, and complex transactions.
Kingdom Bank’s new branch strategy appears to embrace that logic of brick and mortar resilience. By positioning itself in the heart of Kenya’s informal and small-scale manufacturing zones, the bank recognizes that proximity still matters — particularly for MSMEs that thrive on personal relationships and face-to-face support.
The Kariobangi branch will cater to Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs), retail customers, and select corporates, reflecting the area’s diverse economic landscape. It will focus on supporting light industries such as metal and wood fabrication, mechanical repairs, and creative manufacturing — sectors that rely on physical infrastructure as much as financial support.
To serve these clients, Kingdom Bank will provide tailored financial solutions, including business loans, asset financing, Faidi Dada (its women-focused banking solution), and insurance packages designed to safeguard traders’ tools, stock, and equipment. Beyond transactions, the bank will also run financial literacy programs through its MSME Clinics to help small businesses manage growth, improve record-keeping, and access credit more easily.
“Our vision is to walk hand in hand with everyday Kenyans working hard to earn an honest living — the entrepreneurs, youth, women, and families who make our cities thrive,” Mr. Mburu said. “Through this new branch, we are bringing banking closer to where real work happens.”
The Kariobangi launch follows closely on the heels of the Bungoma branch opening — a signal that Kingdom Bank is not just expanding its footprint, but also reaffirming the enduring relevance of the branch in modern banking. In an age of apps and algorithms, the bank’s brick-and-mortar bet is a reminder that trust still has a physical address.
