Kenya / Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)

Banking Act and CBK Prudential Guidelines

The Banking Act (Cap. 488) and the CBK's Prudential Guidelines, including its guideline on preventing money laundering, set the standard that banks, microfinance banks and the digital banking products built on them must meet.

Who it applies to

Industries

Neobanks Fintechs

Key requirements

Know your customer before the account opens

Verify identity from reliable, independent sources before the account can transact.

Risk-based approach

Rate customers by risk and apply checks in proportion.

Outsourcing and partners

A bank remains responsible for KYC done by a fintech or agent on its behalf.

Cybersecurity

Follow CBK guidance on securing digital channels and customer data.

How Sentinel helps

Remote KYC with document checks, face match and liveness.
Configurable review rules that match your bank's policy.
Audit-ready records for CBK inspections.

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General information, not legal advice. Last reviewed October 2026. Requirements change, so confirm the current position with the regulator or your counsel before relying on it.