The world's largest micro-lending organisation KIVA, has announced that it will set up its Africa base in Nairobi to strengthen its partnerships and advance economic opportunity.

The Kenyan office will be Kiva’s first outside the USA, a huge development for a non-profit organisation that was founded in 2005 to lend capital to the small and medium enterprise across the world aimed at alleviating poverty.

Matt Flannery and Premal Shah who are the founders of the organisation said the regional office will be based at the Business Centre at Strathmore University on April 17 this year.

‘’As we open the doors to our new office Nairobi, we are opening the door for new opportunities and exciting partnerships across Africa,’’ said Matt Flannery, CEO and co-founder of Kiva

He added that Nairobi is an emerging hub for numerous potential social enterprise buoyed by the entrepreneurial spirit that is hugely nurtured in the country.

Kiva’s borrowers use internet connection and can access loans from as little as Sh2, 117 ($25) with a repayment rate of 98.9 per cent, lenders are privileged to relend their money or withdraw it from the system.