tabb has entered into a strategic partnership with Doshi in a move aimed at easing long-standing working capital constraints across Kenya’s construction and hardware sector.
The partnership integrates Doshi, a leading supplier of steel, electrical, water, and hardware products, into tabb’s growing trade credit network. Through the collaboration, Doshi’s SME customers — including hardware retailers, contractors, and subcontractors — can now purchase materials using bank-issued, interest-free revolving credit lines embedded directly at the point of sale.
Access to working capital has long been a major bottleneck for construction-related SMEs. Many operate on thin margins and irregular cash flows, limiting their ability to buy in bulk, maintain adequate inventory, or execute projects efficiently. The tabb–Doshi partnership seeks to address this challenge by separating access to credit from suppliers’ balance sheets while preserving supplier liquidity.
“For years, trade customers have been constrained by limited working capital, holding back their ability to purchase in bulk, expand, and grow,” said Hemal, Director at Doshi. “By joining the tabb network, we are removing that constraint and enabling customers to transact with greater confidence.”
tabb operates as a trade credit infrastructure provider rather than a lender. SMEs apply once for a revolving credit line issued by partner banks, which can then be used across all suppliers on the tabb network. When a purchase is made, the supplier receives payment the same day, while the SME repays the bank over 30 to 90 days on an interest-free basis.
According to tabb founder Mesh Alloys, the model realigns incentives across the supply chain. “This partnership shows how trade credit should work. SMEs gain purchasing power, suppliers get paid instantly, and banks can serve small businesses profitably at scale,” he said.
The construction and hardware sector has emerged as a key focus area for tabb due to its high inventory costs and acute working capital needs. Delays in accessing materials often translate into stalled projects, cost overruns, and missed growth opportunities.
Across Africa, SMEs account for approximately 90 per cent of businesses and about 60 per cent of employment, yet they face an estimated $350 billion financing gap. Traditional lending models have struggled to close this gap, particularly for smaller enterprises without extensive collateral or formal credit histories. tabb positions its network as a scalable alternative, enabling banks to deploy capital efficiently while reducing risk through closed-loop payment rails.
The partnership also reflects broader shifts in the market. Increased digital payment adoption, greater openness of bank APIs, and accelerating SME digitisation have created the conditions for embedded trade credit to scale.
As demand for customer credit outpaces suppliers’ ability to extend it, infrastructure-led solutions are gaining traction.
