How to get a Zenka loan 2024 – Apply and Qualify step by step

So you are looking for a quick cash loan on your mobile phone and are wondering how you can get a Zenka loan? Here I shall take you through the steps on how to apply and qualify for an mpesa loan through the Zenka loan app. In addition to this, we shall show you the steps to follow when you register and fill in the Zenka loan application form online, directly in the app.

When getting ready to register and apply for a loan, a new user should know that Zenka offers two main ways to get a loan directly to your phone through Mpesa. The first and most popular is through getting the Zenka loan app downloaded and installed on a smartphone. The second way is without a smartphone for users who use a ‘Kabambe’ phone by requesting a  Zenka loan via USSD code. ( also referred to as getting a loan through SMS.) This method can be used by iPhone users too.

So let’s jump straight into it.

How to get a Zenka loan using the app

Before proceeding to request cash, make sure you have the Zenka app downloaded on your phone. Here is how to apply for cash on Zenka and get the loan sent to your mpesa number.

1. Open the Zenka app.
2. Press ‘sign in‘
3. Confirm the mobile number then press next.
4. Key in your 4-digit PIN and press sign in.
5. You will see how much money you qualify for and the number of days to repay.
6. Press ‘Apply now‘
7. Confirm the loan summary details which include ‘Total amount‘, ‘Due date‘, ‘Next repayment‘, ‘number of installments‘, and ‘principal‘.
8. Select ‘GET LOAN‘.
9. Next, your application will be reviewed.
10. You will then receive an SMS from Zenka SMS number 40730 informing you that your loan is being processed.
11. Finally, your loan will be sent to you through m-pesa. This takes about 5 minutes.

This is the method and the steps you will follow when getting a loan on an Android phone. For non-smartphone users, you can follow these steps to apply for a Zenka loan without using a smartphone.

Before you apply for a loan, you must register on Zenka. This process involves filling in a loan application form online on the app.

How to apply for a Zenka loan without a smartphone – USSD ‘sms’ loan

For users without a smartphone, Zenka provides a way to get a loan even using a simple phone. Follow the steps below.

1. Dial *841# on your phone.
2. Next, enter your user PIN.
3. Select ‘Apply for full limit‘ or the amount you need.
4. Next, you will be shown how much you qualify for.
5. Select the loan amount you need.
6. Choose the loan repayment period and confirm.
7. Your loan will be sent directly to your phone on your mpesa account.

If you do not have a smartphone, no need to worry. You can also apply for a loan using the Zenka loan USSD code. It’s like applying for a Zenka loan through sms.

Apply for a Zenka loan on iPhone (ios) – Apple users

Zenka also has an app for iPhone iOS users. Once you download and install it on your phone, follow the same loan application steps as Android users.

Note: The Zenka app on the Apple app store hasn’t been updated in a while. And after following up with customer care, they have advised that getting a loan using the Android app is easier and faster.  

How register on Zenka app

Are you a new user and you want to register on Zenka to apply for a loan? Here are the steps to follow.

1. Open the Zenka loan app.
2. Next press ‘register‘ where it says ‘New customer? Register here:’
3. Follow the prompts step by step including entering your phone number.
4. Fill in the ‘basic information about you section‘ and complete it.
5. Next, complete the ‘Tell us something more about you‘ section including education level, source of income, net monthly income and email address.
6. Once complete, fill in the ‘help us secure your account‘ section.
7. The next step is to enter a 4-digit PIN.
8. Enter Zenka promo code AJWBG.
9. Press ‘ Agree and Sign Up‘.

Now, wait to recieve an SMS from Zenka that will confirm that your registration was succesful.

If you need a more detailed guide on how to register on Zenka that takes you through each step, check out this complete guide. It comes complete with each stage of the Zenka registration process including all the questions asked.

What is Zenka loan?

Zenka is a mobile lending platform that offers short-term loans to individuals in Kenya through a user-friendly mobile application. These loans are designed to provide financial support during emergencies, unforeseen expenses, or other urgent situations. It can be classified as an emergency loan app in Kenya.

Zenka loans are relatively small in size, making them suitable for covering immediate financial gaps. The loan limit you qualify for ranges between 500 Ksh and Ksh 80,000.

The reason why many Kenyans use the app and USSD is because of its amazing features such as the convenience, speed of application and fast loan disbursement to M-pesa mobile wallets.

How does Zenka loan work

Kenya’s lending industry has changed due to technology. The Zenka loan app is a prime example. It works by using technology to secure sign-ups and prevent fraud with users who sign up to use the service.

By checking the users’ info against a database, the app builds trust. The application does this by checking credit scoring, analyzing repayment behaviour, mobile money transactions and phone data. This decides if users can get and qualify for a loan.

Zenka’s quick loan approval is powered by tech and the use of mobile money integration that helps send out loans fast. The app uses data to suggest personalized loan options while enhancing the user experience. Real-time tools provided by the Zenka app help users manage their loans responsibly.

Zenka keeps data safe with advanced encryption by providing data security and privacy. Overall, it’s a tech-driven loan app changing lending for the better, making it efficient and secure.

Zenka loan limit

The Zenka loan limit is the total cash that you can qualify for when applying for a loan either on the app or by dialling *841# USSD code on your phone.

To learn more about Zenka loan limits and how to grow yours, read this article that breaks down how to grow your Zenka loan limit.

How to qualify for a Zenka loan

To qualify for a Zenka loan, you must meet the following requirements.

• Have a valid Kenyan ID.
• Be above 18 years of age.
• Have a registered Safaricom line.  
• Be registered and active on M-pesa for at least 6 months.
• For smartphone users, have an active Google account with access to the Google Play Store.
• Download and install the Zenka app on your phone.
• Complete the Zenka loan application form online through the app.

Is Zenka giving loans?

Maybe you require a Zenka loan right now and you are wondering if they are still offering loans. Well, the answer is yes. Zenka is still giving loans to users who register and qualify.

Zenka launched and started its operations in Kenya in 2018 and since then, it has been one of the most reliable mobile loans app giving loans to users in Kenya.

However, it’s been noted of late that after repaying your loan, users registered on the Zenka app can get the ‘We are sorry, but you’re not eligible for a loan at the moment’ response when they try to apply for a loan. The reason for getting this message within the app, Zenka says, is because of a few factors which we discuss below.

What causes the ‘ We are sorry, but you’re not eligible for a loan at the moment. ’ message during Zenka loan application

Users of the popular app have come out to complain ‘why is Zenka not giving me a loan? ‘ This comes about when they get a message telling them that they’re not eligible for a loan at the moment. Zenka customer care has come out to explain the reason behind this and they have given the following explanation for not being able to get a loan.

• Your loan repayment trend with various lenders.
• How actively do you undertake mobile money transactions ie volumes of m-pesa transactions?
• Your personal information – data from your mobile phone and the duration you have actively used your registered phone number.

To summarise, why is zenka not giving me loan? The reason you are not able to apply for a Zenka loan and get the ‘you’re not eligible’ message on the app is that your financial standing has changed. Either, you have a loan that you haven’t repaid with other mobile lenders, you do not have enough mpesa transactions to prove you are very active on mpesa or the line hasn’t been active long enough on mpesa.

How to sort out the ‘ not eligible for a loan’ response and qualify for a Zenka loan

According to Zenka, they advised that the best way to resolve this problem is to be patient and try again after a while. This is because Zenka Finance, as a responsible lender, takes many factors into account when evaluating a user’s creditworthiness.

As you are waiting for the loan limit to be updated, you can apply the following tips:

• Make sure you have fully repaid any loans borrowed from other mobile loan lenders.
• Confirm that you are not listed on CRB an make an effort to get cleared.
• Increase your mpesa transactions and retain the mpesa messages i.e. do not delete mpesa messages.
• Remove and delete text messages that imply that you owe or are due for a loan repayment from other loan apps.  
• Check your Zenka details and make sure they are up to date and accurate.
• Lastly, contact Zenka customer service through their mobile number, social media accounts or through the app to ask the reason why you can’t get a loan.

Conclusion

If you want to get Zenka loan, then the quickest way is by using an Android phone by going to the Google Play Store downloading and installing it to your phone. The app has been downloaded over 10 million times making it one of the most popular loan apps in Kenya. However, for this to work, you will need to be online by enusring that you have an internet connection so as to complete the zenka application form on the app.

Although, not to worry if you do not have a smart phone. This is because Zenka offers it’s users a way to get a Zenka loan without the app. This is by using the zenka *841# USSD service which can be dialed on any phone including iPhone ios.