President William Ruto has today signed into law two powerful legislative instruments aimed at tightening Kenya’s grip on financial crime and restoring order in the insurance sector.
The Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism Financing Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, passed by the National Assembly on April 16, introduces sweeping changes to ten existing laws. These changes are designed to plug technical loopholes and bring Kenya in line with international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG).
The amended laws include:
The Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act
The Prevention of Terrorism Act
The Betting, Lotteries and Gaming Act
The Retirement Benefits Act
The Mining Act
The Sacco Societies Act
The Accountants Act
The Estate Agents Act
The Certified Public Secretaries Act
The Public Benefits Organizations Act
These reforms target the laundering of illicit funds, terrorist financing, and the financing of weapons of mass destruction, and are seen as a critical move to safeguard Kenya’s financial system from abuse by global criminal networks.
In a parallel move, the Insurance Professionals Act, 2025 has also been assented to, ushering in a new era of professional accountability in the insurance sector. The law introduces a clear regulatory framework to govern the conduct of insurance practitioners, address professional misconduct, and raise the standards of service delivery.
The dual legislation represents a bold step by the Ruto administration in cleaning up critical sectors of the economy and enhancing compliance with global norms.
