Kenya’s President William Ruto has signed the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism Financing legislation into law.
The legislation is designed to bolster Kenya’s framework for combating money laundering, proliferation financing, and terrorism financing.
The enactment of this legislation represents a decisive step in strengthening the country’s financial system against illegal financial flows.
An official statement by the State House notes, “The amended law seals long-standing loopholes that have enabled the misuse of property transactions and shell companies for illegal financial activities” the statement reads.
“These legal reforms reaffirm Kenya’s standing as a leader in financial integrity and enhance the country’s credibility in the global regulatory regime,” the statement further states.
The National Assembly initially passed the bill on April 16, 2025. But President Ruto returned it to Parliament with reservations. It was passed a second time on June 3, 2025, with amendments that fully addressed the President’s concerns.
The move comes barely a week after the European Commission added Kenya to its updated list of high-risk countries with strategies in their anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) regimes. The updated list reflects the findings of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Ten Acts of Parliament have been amended to address deficiencies flagged by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG).
Read more: Why Was Kenya Blacklisted by the EU Over Money Laundering?
