CIS ValiData Deployment Procedure
The CIS ValiData Tool is a cutting-edge data validation and submission solution developed by the Credit Information Sharing Association of Kenya (CIS Kenya). Following its official approval by the Central Bank of Kenya, this tool is set to become the new standard for how all Credit Information Providers (CIPs) in Kenya share data with licensed Credit Reference Bureaus (CRBs). Below, please find the implementation procedure.
A CIP must first assemble a complete internal project team and successfully deploy the ValiData tool. The internal project team should include:
- Project Sponsor – Holds overall ownership and accountability, secures necessary resources, champions the project internally, and provides final go-live sign-off.
- ValiData Coordinator / PM – Manages day-to-day project activities; primary point of contact for the CIS Kenya Liaison team; coordinates internal resources; tracks progress and risks.
- Technical Lead – Oversees tool deployment, infrastructure setup, networking, and API integration; leads technical troubleshooting.
- Functional / Credit Ops Lead – Leads GCT execution; performs data error analysis and coordinates data cleansing; validates new operational workflows; trains end users.
- Compliance Lead – Ensures the data handling and submission process remains compliant with internal policies and external regulations (e.g., Data Protection Act).
- Once a CIP has confirmed the internal team and deployed ValiData, a CIS Kenya Gate Keeper will add it to the “ready pool” pending assignment of a CIS K Liaison to support with the Go-live Certification Test (GCT).
- Once assigned, a CIS K Liaison will ensure the CIP ValiData tool is correctly set up and configured, including updating of test CRB APIs.
- CIS K Liaison will train the CIP credit Information reporting team in readiness for the GCT
The CIP will proceed to validate at least 3 files of each file type to confirm that they meet the 80% threshold of submission to CRBs. CIS K Liaison will assist with the identification of challenging data fields and action planning to improve them to meet the threshold.
All three CRBs must review the submitted CIP’s test files and give their approval that the files can be decrypted and read into their respective test environments.
The CIS K Liaison will recommend the CIP to the PIC for Go-Live. On confirmation of the PIC, the Project Manager will write to the CIP ValiData project sponsor to confirm internal readiness to go live and request formal sign-off.
CIP ValiData Project Sponsor confirms internal alignment and signs off for go-live
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Once the CIP’s project sponsor approves, CRBs will issue production APIs for the CIP to go live, at which point the CIP can officially start using the tool to submit credit data.
