Kenya's financial sector is supervised by several regulators, each with its own licensing route and its own continuing obligations. We advise institutions on entering the market, on maintaining authorisation once they are in it, and on how a new product sits within the regime that applies to them.
New products, partnerships and technology are moving faster than the licensing frameworks written for them, which means a workable regulatory strategy has to be built early — not bolted on after a product has already launched. We help institutions work out which regulator’s remit they fall under, what authorisation route applies, and what ongoing reporting or capital obligations follow.
Licensing and regulatory advice for banks, SACCOs, insurers, fintechs and payment providers.
What We Do
Our work in financial services law typically covers:
- Licensing and authorisation applications — Preparing and submitting applications to the Central Bank of Kenya, Capital Markets Authority, IRA and other relevant regulators.
- Regulatory approvals and change-of-control consents — Securing the consents a regulated institution needs before a shareholding or management change can proceed.
- Product structuring within the applicable regime — Reviewing new financial products against the regulatory framework before launch.
- Digital credit and payment services regulation — Advising fintechs and payment providers on registration and ongoing compliance obligations.
- SACCO and deposit-taking compliance — Supporting SACCOs and deposit-taking institutions with SASRA and prudential requirements.
- Insurance intermediary arrangements — Structuring agency, brokerage and bancassurance arrangements for insurance intermediaries.
- Regulator correspondence and supervisory engagement — Managing formal correspondence and inspections with financial sector regulators.
- Outsourcing and agency arrangements — Documenting outsourcing and agency relationships in line with regulatory requirements.
Our Approach
- 1. Initial consultation — We discuss your matter, understand what you need, and tell you plainly where you stand.
- 2. Scope and fee agreement — We agree the scope of work and the fee basis in writing before work begins.
- 3. The work — We handle the matter directly, keeping you informed at each material step.
- 4. Completion and follow-up — We confirm the matter is complete and remain available for anything that follows from it.
Who We Act For
We act for regulated institutions and the businesses entering their market:
- Banks and microfinance institutions
- SACCOs and deposit-taking institutions
- Insurers and insurance intermediaries
- Payment service providers and fintechs entering the Kenyan market
Ready to discuss a financial services matter?
Get in touch and we will tell you plainly where you stand and what the process involves.
