Nairobi, Aug. 24 -- The High Court has upheld legal restrictions barring politicians and financial-sector insiders from becoming Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) governor or deputy governor.

The court dismissed a Constitutional challenge by an advocate, Ishmael Nyaribo, finding the statutory restrictions protect CBK from conflicts of interest and political influence.

"The restrictions, in Section 14 of the Central Bank of Kenya Act, act as safeguards of the integrity and independence of the recruitment process. That section is designed to prevent severe conflict of interest between regulators and regulated financial entities," said Justice Roseline Aburili.

The petition arose from a Public Service Commission advertisement published on March...