Financial Reporting Centre (FRC)
Kenya's financial intelligence unit. It receives, analyses, and disseminates suspicious transaction reports to law enforcement and competent authorities.
Africa · Country coverage
AML/CTF Compliance in Kenya
Kenya regulates AML/CTF through the Financial Reporting Centre under the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act. See the obligations and how MemberCheck supports them.
Last updated
Screening coverage for Kenya
- Sanctions & PEP screening
- Adverse media checks
- Customer identity verification
- Jurisdiction risk checks
- Ongoing monitoring
Key facts
AML supervisor / FIUFinancial Reporting Centre (FRC)
FATF statusESAAMLG member
Primary legislationProceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act (POCAMLA), 2009
Overview
AML/CTF compliance in Kenya.
Kenya regulates money laundering and terrorist financing through the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act, supported by the Financial Reporting Centre, which receives and analyses suspicious transaction reports.
Regulated entities must apply customer due diligence, identify beneficial owners, monitor relationships, and report suspicious activity to the FRC, alongside supervision from the Central Bank of Kenya. Supervisors expect a designated compliance officer, sound internal controls, and staff training.
MemberCheck helps teams meet these obligations by screening customers and entities against global sanctions, PEP, and adverse-media data, verifying identities, and monitoring risk continuously, with a clear audit trail behind every decision.
Regulation
All solutions →Key laws and regulators.
Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act
Kenya's principal AML statute, setting customer due diligence, recordkeeping, and reporting obligations for financial institutions and other reporting entities.
Central Bank of Kenya
The CBK supervises banks and other licensed financial institutions for AML/CTF compliance, working alongside the FRC.
ESAAMLG membership
Kenya is a member of the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group, a FATF-style regional body, and aligns its regime with the FATF 40 Recommendations through that membership.
Obligations
What regulated businesses must do.
- Apply customer due diligence and identity verification
- Identify beneficial owners of corporate customers
- Report suspicious transactions to the FRC
- Conduct ongoing monitoring of customer relationships
- Maintain internal controls and a compliance officer
- Maintain records and provide staff training
1,000+
Global watchlists screened
<1s
Average screening response
24h
Watchlist refresh cycle
195
Countries covered
FAQ
Common questions.
Who supervises AML/CTF in Kenya?
The Financial Reporting Centre (FRC) receives and analyses suspicious transaction reports, while the Central Bank of Kenya supervises banks and other licensed financial institutions for AML/CTF compliance.
What is the main AML law in Kenya?
The Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act (POCAMLA) sets the customer due diligence, recordkeeping, and reporting obligations for regulated entities in Kenya.
Is Kenya a member of FATF?
Kenya is a member of ESAAMLG, the FATF-style regional body for Eastern and Southern Africa, and aligns its AML/CTF regime with the FATF 40 Recommendations through that membership.
How does MemberCheck support AML compliance in Kenya?
MemberCheck screens customers and entities against global sanctions, PEP, and adverse-media data, verifies identities, and monitors risk continuously, with an audit trail behind every decision.
Screen customers for Kenya risk with MemberCheck.
Book a walkthrough with our compliance team and screen a real case in the first session.