Nairobi, July 23 -- The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) wants the Microfinance Bill 2026 amended to expressly grant it powers to enforce anti-money laundering measures, warning that the omission would compromise the country's efforts to exit a global watch list on illicit financing.

CBK Governor Kamau Thugge said the proposed law on micro lenders doesn't sufficiently align with the country's anti-money laundering framework.

"The CBK has reviewed the Microfinance Bill No.9 of 2026 and is supportive of it. Nonetheless, the Bill does not contain provisions on powers of the Central Bank to regulate, supervise and enforce compliance for anti-money laundering, combating the financing of terrorism, and countering proliferation financing," he said ...