Kenya Central Bank Boosts Crypto Oversight with Senior Hires

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) is taking proactive steps to regulate the country's virtual asset service providers (VASPs). In a significant move, the CBK has opened recruitment for four senior positions within its Digital Payment Services Division to oversee VASP supervision. The roles include licensing, product approval, and compliance oversight.

The recruitment drive marks the first time the CBK has advertised positions dedicated specifically to VASP supervision. The bank aims to hire a manager-level professional to lead the licensing function, reviewing applications and recommending approvals or rejections. Two deputy managers will handle licensing and product approval, as well as compliance oversight, including risk-based supervision of licensed VASPs.

The CBK's hiring is consistent with the passage of the 2025 VASP Act in October 2025, which established Kenya's first legal framework for crypto oversight. The law requires the CBK to regulate virtual assets used for payments, a market where crypto-linked remittances and mobile money integrations have steadily expanded.

The subordinate regulations needed to operationalize the act remain pending, but the CBK's hiring suggests it is building internal capacity ahead of implementation. All four roles require backgrounds in payments, banking, financial services, or law, with senior positions demanding expertise in anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorism financing, and international VASP standards.