Kenya's Equity Group says has launched $4.5 billion loan programme for businesses

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenya's Equity Group Holdings said on Monday it had launched a 500 billion shilling ($4.48 billion) loan programme to be disbursed over five years to help businesses recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We hope to reach 5 million businesses," Chief Executive Officer James Mwangi told an investor briefing.

($1 = 111.5000 Kenyan shillings)

(Reporting by George Obulutsa; Editing by Kim COghill)