Follow these 10 proven strategies to increase your credit score by 100+ points in 6-12 months. Start qualifying for better loans with lower interest rates.
Payment history is 35% of your score - the single most important factor. Even one late payment can drop your score by 50-100 points.
Pro Tip: Pay 2-3 days BEFORE the due date, not on the due date. Bank processing delays can mark you late even if you paid on time.
Credit utilization is 30% of your score. Using too much of your available credit signals financial stress.
Credit limit: KES 100,000
Current balance: KES 85,000
Utilization: 85% 😰
Credit limit: KES 100,000
Current balance: KES 25,000
Utilization: 25% 😊
An active CRB listing (defaulted loan) can drop your score to 300-400 range. Clearing it is the fastest way to improve dramatically.
Important: Cleared listings remain on your report for 7 years but show as "settled" instead of "defaulted". This is much better and allows you to qualify for new credit.
Length of credit history is 15% of your score. Closing old accounts shortens your average account age.
"I paid off my credit card, so I'll close it to avoid temptation." ❌ DON'T DO THIS!
Closing the card reduces your total available credit (increasing utilization on other cards) and removes a positive payment history account.
Keep the card open but use it minimally. Use it once every 3-6 months for a small purchase (like KES 500 airtime), then pay it off immediately.
Each credit application creates a "hard inquiry" that stays on your report for 2 years and can drop your score by 5-10 points. Multiple applications in short time = red flag to lenders.
Result: Score drops 40+ points, looks desperate
Result: Minimal score impact, shows financial stability
Having a mix of credit types (credit card + personal loan + M-Pesa loan) shows you can handle different credit responsibly.
25% of credit reports contain errors. Correcting them can boost your score by 50+ points instantly.
If someone with excellent credit adds you as authorized user on their credit card, their good history boosts your score.
If your debt was sold to a collection agency, negotiate and pay it off. Shows you're resolving past issues.
Regular monitoring helps you catch errors early and track improvement. Set calendar reminder to check quarterly.
Setup Phase
Check all 3 CRBs, identify issues, set up automatic payments, start paying bills on time. May see 10-20 point increase from correcting errors.
Early Gains
Consistent on-time payments and lowered credit utilization start showing. Expect 30-50 point increase. This is when you'll notice lenders treating you better.
Momentum Building
Cleared CRB listings now showing as settled. Credit history lengthening. Expect 70-100 point increase from baseline. You may now qualify for loans you were rejected for before.
Peak Improvement
With consistent behavior, expect 100-150+ point increase. You're now in "Good" or "Excellent" range. Qualify for best rates and highest loan amounts.