The government has intensified efforts to strengthen Kenya’s Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) framework as it moves to address remaining gaps and restore full international confidence in the country’s financial system.
Principal Secretary for the National Treasury Dr Chris Kiptoo said on Tuesday that Kenya is making steady progress under the International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) process, which is guiding the country’s exit from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List.
The FATF Grey List, officially known as Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring, identifies countries that are actively working with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to address strategic deficiencies in their regimes to counter money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing.
Speaking after a high-level meeting in Nairobi with principals of AML/CFT implementing agencies, Kiptoo said the government is focused on ensuring all outstanding reforms are completed. The meeting was held on behalf of Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi to review progress and agree on the next steps toward exiting the grey list.
“Kenya is accelerating reforms to strengthen its AML/CFT framework to address identified gaps and restore full international confidence in the country’s financial system,” Kiptoo said.
He highlighted major legislative and institutional milestones already achieved, including the enactment of the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism Financing Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, and the Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) Act, 2025. These laws, he said, have significantly strengthened Kenya’s ability to regulate financial flows and emerging digital asset platforms.
Other reforms include stronger institutional coordination, enhanced risk-based customer due diligence, improved reporting of suspicious transactions and closer inter-agency collaboration across key sectors of the economy.
PS Kiptoo said the government is now taking “decisive actions” to complete the remaining requirements under the ICRG action plan and secure Kenya’s removal from the FATF grey list.
Exiting the grey list is expected to improve investor confidence, ease cross-border transactions and strengthen Kenya’s standing in the global financial system.
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