The East African country Kenya is expecting to have a strong economic recovery as the nation’s vaccination gains momentum and the services industry rebounds from a brutal pandemic fallout. According to forecasts, Kenya will grow at a 6.6% rate in 2021 as compared to a 0.6% rise in 2020. The International Monetary Fund stated that this is the highest growth rate in at least a decade driven by increased activity in the service sector.
Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Status
Kenya is not on the FATF List of Countries that have been identified as having strategic AML deficiencies.
Regulators
Central Bank of Kenya
The Central Bank of Kenya, established in 2010, is responsible for formulating monetary policy to achieve and maintain price stability. The Bank promotes financial stability; an effective and efficient payment, clearing, and settlement system; develops and implements foreign exchange policies; holds and manages foreign exchange reserves; issuing currency; and is the banker for, adviser to, and fiscal agent of the Government.
Capital Markets Authority (CMA)
The Authority was established under the National Treasury and Planning Act on December 15, 1989. The CMA is a regulating body with the responsibility of supervising, licensing, and monitoring the activities of market intermediaries, including the stock exchange and the central depository and settlement system and all the other persons licensed under the Capital Markets Act.
Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG)
The ESAAMLG is a regional body established to combat money laundering and terrorist financing by ensuring the adoption of FATF’s 40 Recommendations. Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe make the members of this group. It also includes several regional and international observers such as AUSTRAC, Commonwealth Secretariat, East African Community, FATF, IMF, SADC, United Kingdom, United States of America, UNODC, World Bank, and World Customs Organization.
Relevant regulations
On March 3, 2017, the Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, signed the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering (Amendment) Bill into law. The Amendment Bill would strengthen the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC) by giving them the power to impose civil penalties against persons (both natural and juridical) who defy its authority. Yet, in 2020, the country ranked among significant money laundering jurisdictions globally, with transactions totalling 1.78 billion USD.
Kenyan verification available
Any Kenyan citizen can be verified using government, commercial or credit data sources. Based on the documentation verified against the data sources you can validate the name, date of birth (DOB), and address. Kenya citizens can be verified using the following documents:
National Identity Card
The Kenyan national ID is issued by the Embassy of the Republic of Kenya. All Kenyans who attain the age of 18 years are eligible for the card. Kenyans who acquire citizenship by registration are also entitled to allotment of the identity card. You can verify your customers’ DOB, gender, name, and card number.
Passport
The Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government under the Republic of Kenya issues the Kenyan passport and other travel documents. You can verify your customers’ nationality, name, and DOB.
Driver Licence
In 2012, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) of Kenya was established to harmonise the operations and help in effectively managing the road transport department and issuing licenses. You can verify your customers’ name, address, DOB, and Licence number.
AML Screening
Global watchlists can identify if Kenya citizens are high-risk individuals or entities. You can screen your customers against PEPs, Sanctions, and adverse media lists.