2016-01-08
The Banking Act of Kenya outlines the requirements for carrying out banking business, licensing of institutions, prohibited business, reserves and dividends, accounts and audits, information and reporting requirements, inspection and control of institutions, and miscellaneous provisions.
LAWS OF KENYA The Banking Act CHAPTER 488 Note This edition incorporates amendments up to 15th September 2015 PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY CENTRAL BANK OF KENYA FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY
Section PART I - PRELIMINARY 1 - Short title 2 - Interpretation
3 - Restriction on Carrying of Banking Business, Etc 4 - Application for License. 5 - Licensing of Institutions. 6 - Revocation of License. 7 - Minimum Capital Requirements. 8 - Location of Places of Business. 8A - Branches and Subsidiaries 9 - Amalgamations and Transfer of Assets and Liabilities. 9A - Directors, Chief Executive Officers and Significant Shareholders to be Fit and Proper
10 - Limit on Advances, Credits and Guarantees. 11 - Restrictions on Advances, Credits and Guarantees.
12 - Restrictions on Trading and Investments.
13 - Restrictions on Ownership of Share Capital of an Institution. 14 - Restrictions on Advances for Purchase of Land. 15 - Mortgage Finance Companies. 16 - Restrictions on Deposit Taking. 16A- Imposition of Charges and Payment of Interest
17 - Ratio Between Capital and Deposits. 18 - Ratio Between Capital and Assets 19 - Minimum Liquid Assets. 20 - Restrictions on Dividends. 20A Financial Year 1
21 - Form of Accounts. 22 - Accounts to be Exhibited. 23 - Submission of Accounts to the Central Bank. 24 - Appointment of Auditors. 25 - Change of Auditors to be Notified to the Central Bank. 26 - Auditor's Duty of Confidence.
27 - Collection of Information by Central Bank. 28 - Furnishing of Information. 29 - Minister may Require Further Information. 30 - Time to Furnish Information. 31 - Publication of Information.
32 - Inspection of Institutions. 32A- Vetting of Officials 33 - Powers of Central Bank to Advise and Direct. 33A- Power upon Audit and Inspection. 34 - Powers of Central Bank to Intervene in Management. 34A - Voluntary Liquidation. 35 - Liquidation of Institutions by Central Bank. 35A - Expenses under Part
36 - Deposit Protection Fund Board. 36A - Objects and Functions of the Board 36B - Remuneration of Board Members 36C - Protection from Personal Liability 37 - Deposit Protection Fund 38 - Contribution to the Fund. 39 - Protection of Deposits. 40 - Rights of the Board on Insolvency. 40A -Rights of Assignments. 41 - [Repealed]. 41A - Administration of Assets. 42 - Annual Reports, etc PART IX-REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES OF FOREIGN INSTITUTIONS 43 - Representative Offices of Foreign Institutions.
44 - Restriction on Increase in Bank Charges. 44A- Limit on Interest Recovered on Defaulted Loans 45 - Minister to Consult with the Central Bank. 46 - Bank Holidays. 47 - Orders by High Court. 48 - Disqualification of Officers. 49 - Penalties for Offences. 50 - Penalties for Default by Officers. 51 - Misleading Advertisement for Deposits. 52 - Civil Obligations. 52A Act to Prevail in Event of Conflict. 53 - Exemptions. 54 - Act not to apply to certain institutions. 55 - Regulations. 56 - Repeal and savings.
FIRST SCHEDULE: Criteria for Determining Professional and Moral Suitability of Directors and Senior Officers Proposed to Manage or Control Institutions SECOND SCHEDULE Minimum Capital Requirements
The Banking (licences) (forms and Fees) Regulations The Banking (deposit Protection Fund) Regulations,2003 The Banking (penalties) Regulations, 1999 The Banking (liquidation of Institutions) Regulations, 1992 The Banking (exchange of Information) Regulations, 2004, Repealed by Ln/97 of 2008 Revocation. The Banking (fees) Regulations, 1994 The Banking (increase of Rate of Banking and Other Charges) Regulations, 2006 Exemption-cfc Stanbic Holdings Limited-1st June, 2008 The Banking (Credit Reference Bureau) Regulations, 2008, Repealed by Ln/5 of 2014 Revocation. Exemption-gulf African Bank Limited 2009 Exemption-co-op Holdings Co-operative - 8th August, 2008 Exemption-helios Eb Investors, L.p. 2008 Exemption- Middle East Bank Limited, 2011 Exemption - Victoria Commercial Bank, 2011 The Banking (Credit Reference Bureau) Regulations, 2014. THE BANKING ACT No. 17 of 1985 No. 20 of 1989 No. 13 of 1994 No. 3 of 1997 No. 10 of 1997 No. 55 of 1998 No. 5 of 1998 No. 9 of 2000 No. 24 of 2002 No. 15 of 2003 No. 9 of 2006 No 19 of 2006 No. 9 of 2007 No. 8 of 2008 No. 8 of 2009 No.10 of 2010
An Act of Parliament to amend and consolidate the law regulating the business of banking in Kenya and for connected purposes.
| Short title | 1. | This Act may be cited as the Banking Act |
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| Interpretation | 2. | (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires |
| No. 8 of 2009 | "agency" means an entity contracted by an institution | |
| No.38 of 2013 | and approved by the Central Bank or sub-contracted by such entity to provide the services of the institution on behalf of the institution, in such manner as may be prescribed by the Central Bank; | |
| No. 14 of 2008 | Provided that where such entity is a co-operative society, prior approval to provide the services shall be sought from the Sacco Societies Regulatory Authority established under the SACCO Societies Act, 2008 "assigned capital" has the meaning given to it in section 7(4); | |
| No. 8 of 2009 | "bank" means a company which carries on, or proposes to carry on, banking business in Kenya but does not include the Central Bank; "banking business" means (a) the accepting from members of the public of money on deposit repayable on demand or at the expiry of a fixed period or after notice; (b) the accepting from members of the public of money on current account and payment on and acceptance of cheques; and |
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| (c) | the employing of money held on deposit or on current account, or any part of the money, by lending, investment or in any other manner for the account and at the risk of the person so employing the money; | |
| (d) | such other business activity as the Central Bank may prescribe. | |
| No. 57 of 2012 | "banking group" means a licensed institution and its subsidiaries, non operating holding companies and subsidiaries of its non operating holding companies; | |
| No. 57 of 2012 | "Board" means the Deposit Protection Fund Board established by section 36; | |
| No. 10 of 2006 | "branch" means any permanent premises, other than its head office, at | |
| No.8 of 2009 | which an institution transacts business in or outside Kenya; "capital" means paid-up share capital or, in the case of an institution incorporated outside Kenya, its assigned capital; | |
| Cap 491 | "the Central Bank" means the Central Bank of Kenya established by the Central Bank of Kenya Act; | |
| No. 57 of 2012 | "competent authority" means any of the bodies set out in the Third Schedule; "convertible currency" means currency which is freely negotiable and transferable in international exchange markets at exchange rate margins consistent with the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund; "co-ordinator" means the Central Bank; | |
| No. 57 of 2012 No. 4 of 1999 | "core capital" means permanent shareholders' equity in the form of issued and fully paid-up shares of common stock, or in the case of foreign incorporated banks, of the assigned capital, plus all disclosed reserves, less goodwill or any other intangible assets; |
| No. 4 of 1999 | "current account" means an account maintained by a bank for and in the name of, or in a name designated by, a customer of the bank into which money is paid by or for the benefit of such customer and on which cheques and other bills of exchange may be drawn by, and transfers and other banking transactions made on the instructions of the customer; "disclosed reserves" includes all reserves created or increased through share premiums, retained profits (after deducting all expenses, provisions, taxation and dividends) and general reserves if such disclosed reserves are permanent and unencumbered and thus able to absorb losses; |
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| No. 10 of 1997 | "financial business" means: (a) the accepting from members of the public of money on deposit repayable on demand or at the expiry of a fixed period or after notice; and (b) the employing of money held on deposit or any part of the money, by lending, investment or in any other manner for the account and at the risk of the person so employing the money; "financial institution" means a company, other than a bank, which carries on, or proposes to carry on, financial business and includes any other company which the Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, declare to be a financial institution for the purposes of this Act; "financial year" means the financial year prescribed in section 20A; |
| No. 57 of 2012 | "group" means a non-operating holding company, its subsidiaries and all associated companies of the parent or its subsidiaries. "institution" means a bank or financial institution or a mortgage finance company; "land" includes freehold and leasehold land in Kenya and all buildings and permanent improvements thereon; |
| "licence" means a licence granted under section 5; "members of the public" means individuals, partnerships, corporate bodies and trustees or managers of trusts, pension and provident funds or other similar funds; | |
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| No.10 of 2010 | "mortgage finance company" means a company (other than a financial institution) which accepts, from members of the public, money- (a) on deposit repayable on demand or at the expiry of a fixed period or after notice; or (b) on current account and payment on and acceptance of cheques, and is established for the purpose of employing such money in accordance with section 15; |
| No. 7 of 2001 | "minister" means the Minister for the time being responsible for matters relating to finance" "officer", in relation to an institution, means a director or any other person, by whatever name or title he may be called or described, who carries out or is empowered to carry out functions relating to the overall direction in Kenya of that institution or takes part in the general management thereof in Kenya; |
| No. 57 of 2012 | "non-operating holding company" means a company, other than the institution, which has approved control of an institution and whose activities are limited to holding investments in subsidiaries, holding properties used by group members; raising funds to invest in, or to provide support to, subsidiaries, raising funds to conduct its own limited activities, investing funds on behalf of the group, conducting the banking activities required for its own limited functions, and providing administrative, risk management and financial services to support the efficient operation of the group; |
| No. 8 of 2009 | |
| No. 38 of 2013 | "place of business" means any premises, other than the head office, including a branch, an agency or a mobile unit, or such other premises as may, from time to time, be prescribed by the Central Bank, at which an institution transacts banking or financial business and which is |
| open to the public. "public entity" means the Government, a local authority or a public body declared by the Minister to be a public entity for the purposes of this Act; "representative office" means an office established in Kenya under the provisions of part IX; | |
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| No.9 of 2006(Deleted) | |
| No. 14 of 2015 | "significant shareholder" means a person, other than the Government or a public entity, who holds, directly or indirectly, or otherwise has a beneficial interest amounting to, five percent or more of the share capital of an institution or a corporate entity seeking to become an institution; |
| No. 10 of 2010 | "significantly undercapitalized" in relation to an institution, means that the institution holds less than fifty percent of the capital requirements prescribed under section 18; |
| No. 4 of 1999 | "supplementary capital" means general provisions which are held against future and presently unidentified losses that are freely available to meet losses which subsequently materialize, and revaluation reserves on banking premises which arise periodically from independent valuation of such premises, and any other form of capital as may be determined from time to time by the Central Bank; |
| No. 4 of 1999 | "total capital" means the total sum of core capital and supplementary capital; |
| No. 38 of 2013 | "total deposit liabilities" means the total deposits in or outside Kenya in any institution which are repayable on demand or after a fixed period or after notice; |
| No. 10 of 2010 | "undercapitalized bank" means an institution that does not fully comply with the capital requirements prescribed in section18; "unimpaired reserves" means capital and revenue reserves not subject to any charge or other encumbrance or option or liable to reduction by payment of dividend or otherwise. |
| No. 57 of 2012 No. 57 of 2012 No. 57 of 2012 | (2) For the purposes of this Act, "associate"- (a) in relation to a company or other body corporate means- (i) its holding company or its subsidiary; (ii) a subsidiary of its holding company; (iii) a holding company of its subsidiary; (iv) its non-operating holding company as its subsidiary (v) a subsidiary of a non-operating holding company (vi) any person who controls the company or body corporate whether alone or with his associates or with its associates; (b) In relation to an individual means: (i) Any member of his family; (ii) Any company or other body corporate controlled directly or indirectly, by him whether alone or with his associates; and (iii) Deleted and a person shall be deemed to be a member of a family if he is the parent, spouse, brother, sister, child, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, stepfather, stepmother, stepchild and adopted child of the person concerned, and in case of an adopted child his adopter or adopters. |
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| No. 6 of 2005 No. 57 of 2012 No. 6 of 2005 | (3) For purposes of subsection (2), the term "control" includes:- (a) the ability to influence, whether directly or indirectly, the composition of the board of directors of a company or any other body corporate; or (b) holding, directly or indirectly, whether personally or through a holding company or companies or subsidiaries thereof, or in any other way, an aggregate of twenty per centum or more of the voting power of a company or body corporate, whether alone or with associates or with other associates of the company or body corporate. |
| No. 57 of 2012 | (c) as may be determined by the Central Bank, where a person has the ability to exercise a dominant influence over the management or policies of a company or body corporate on the basis of an agreement or by any other means, regardless of the amount of formal ownership or voting rights. |
| Restrictions on carrying on banking business. No. 8 of 2009 | 3. | (1) No person shall in Kenya- (a)transact any banking business or financial business or the business of a mortgage finance company unless it is an institution or a duly approved agency conducting banking business on behalf of an institution which holds a valid licence; (b) unless it is a bank and has obtained the consent of the Central Bank, to use the word "bank" or any of its derivatives or any other word indicating the transaction of banking business, or the equivalent of the foregoing in any other language, in the name, description or title under which it transacts business in Kenya or make any representation whatsoever that it transacts banking business; |
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| No. 9 of 2006 | (c) unless it is a financial institution or mortgage finance company and has obtained the consent of the Central Bank, use the word "finance" or any of its derivatives or any other word indicating the transaction of financial business or the business of a mortgage finance company, or the equivalent of the foregoing in any other language, in the name, description or title under which it transacts business in Kenya or make any representation whatsoever that it transacts financial business. | |
| No.41 of 2013 | Provided that:- (a) the provisions of paragraph (b) and (c) of this subsection shall not apply to investment banks licensed under Section 11 (3) of the Capital Markets Act and microfinance banks licensed under section 6(1) of the Microfinance Act, 2006; and | |
| No. 10 of 2006 Cap 485A | (b) | a person granted consent by the Central Bank under paragraphs (b) and (c) and who does not obtain a licence within twelve months of such grant shall forthwith cease the use of those words. |
| (2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both. | |||
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| No. 57 of 2012 | (3) Where | an institution conducts business through an agent, the | |
| institution shall be liable for the acts or omissions of the agent in so far as such acts or omissions relate to that business. | |||
| Application for licence. | 4. | (1) Every institution intending to transact banking business, financial | |
| No. 9 of 2006 | business or the business of a mortgage finance company in Kenya shall, before commencing that business, apply in writing, to the Central Bank for a licence. | ||
| No. 9 of 2006 | (2) Deleted | ||
| No. 9 of 2006 | (3) The Central Bank shall, where it is satisfied as to the professional and moral suitability of persons proposed to manage or control the institution, certify that such persons are fit and proper persons to manage or control the institution. (4) For the purposes of this section, the criteria for assessing the professional or moral suitability of persons proposed to manage or control an institution shall be as prescribed in the First Schedule. |
No. 9 of 2006 (5) In considering an application for a licence, the Central Bank may require to be satisfied as to:- (a) the financial condition and history of the institution; (b) the character of its management; (c) the professional and moral suitability of the persons proposed to manage or control the institution; (d) the adequacy of its capital structure and earning prospects; (e) the convenience and needs of the area to be served; and
| (f) the public interest which will be served by the granting of the licence. | |||
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| (6) The Minister may by notice in the Gazette, amend the First Schedule. | |||
| No. 9 of 2006 | (7) If a person, other than the Government or a public entity, holds, directly or indirectly, or otherwise has a beneficial interest in, more than five per cent of the share capital of an institution or if it is proposed that such a person shall so hold or have such a beneficial interest, that person shall be deemed, for the purposes of this section, to be a person proposed to manage or control the institution. | ||
| Licensing of institutions | 5. | (1) Subject to section 4, the Central Bank may, upon payment of the | |
| No. 9 of 2006 | prescribed fee, grant a licence to an institution to carry on business. | ||
| No. 13 of 1994 s.2 | (2) The Central Bank may endorse on a licence granted under this section such conditions as the Central Bank considers necessary and may from time to time add, vary or substitute such conditions as the Central Bank deems appropriate. | ||
| No. 9 of 2006 | (2A) An institution which fails to commence business in | Kenya within | |
| twelve months of the grant of a licence under this section shall, if it still proposes to transact business in Kenya, make a fresh application under section 4. | |||
| No.14 of 2015 | (3) A licence issued under this section shall remain valid unless revoked under section 6: Provided that a licence which was in force on the date of commencement of this subsection shall be deemed to be a licence to which this subsection applies. | ||
| No.14 of 2015 | (4) An institution shall pay annual fees in such amount and in such manner as the Central Bank may prescribe. | ||
| No.14 of 2015 | (5) An institution that fails to pay the annual fees by the end of the financial year shall pay double the annual fee, if payment is made within ninety days after the end of the financial year. |
| Revocation of Licence No. 9 of 2006 |
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| No.14 of 2015 No.14 of 2015 | (8) ( Repealed) (9) ( Repealed) |
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| No.14 of 2015 No.14 of 2015 | (10) ( Repealed) (11) ( Repealed) |
| No.14 of 2015 |
No.14 of 2015 (6) An institution which fails to pay the annual fees within ninety days after the end of the financial year referred to in subsection (5) shall have its licence revoked under section 6.
(7) Any fee or other amount payable under this section shall be paid into the Central Bank.
No. 9 of 2006 6. (1) The Central Bank may, by notice in writing to the institution, revoke a licence if the institution:- Cap 491.Cap 113 (a) ceases to carry on business in Kenya or goes into liquidation or is wound up or is otherwise dissolved; or (b) fails to comply with this Act, the Central Bank of Kenya Act , or any rules, regulations, orders or directions issued under those Acts or any condition of a licence: Provided that: (i) the Central Bank, before revoking a licence, shall give to the institution not less than twenty-eight days' notice in writing of the Central Bank's intention, and shall consider any representations made to the Central Bank in writing by the institution within that period before revoking the licence;
| (ii) the institution may, notwithstanding that its licence has been revoked under this subsection, continue to carry on its business for the purpose of winding up its affairs for such period as the Central Bank may determine so long as it does not accept new deposits, open new current accounts or make any loans or investments. | |||||
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| No. 9 of 2006 | (2) Notwithstanding the revocation of a licence under this section, the Central Bank may exercise any of the powers conferred on it under Part VII if it is necessary for the protection of the interests of the depositors. | ||||
| No. 9 of 2006 | (3) The Central Bank shall cause the name of every institution whose licence is revoked under this section to | be | |||
| published forthwith in the Gazette. | |||||
| Minimum | capital | ||||
| requirements | 7. | (1) A licence shall not be granted to an institution unless the institution meets the minimum capital requirements specified in the Second Schedule. | |||
| No. 13 of 1994 | (2) The Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, amend the Second Schedule. (3) Every order made under subsection (2) shall be laid before the National Assembly without unreasonable delay, and unless a resolution approving the order is passed by the Assembly within twenty days on which it next sits after the order is so laid, it shall henceforth be void, but without prejudice to anything previously done thereunder or to the issuing of a new order. (4) The board of management or other controlling authority of an institution incorporated outside Kenya shall, in addition to meeting the minimum capital requirements specified in the Second Schedule, give an undertaking satisfactory to the Minister to keep within Kenya at all times during the currency of its licence, out of its own funds, a capital assigned to its Kenya branches (in this Act referred to as "assigned capital") of such minimum amount as may be prescribed. | ||||
| Location | of | places | of | 8. | (1) No institution shall open in Kenya a branch or a new place of |
Location of places of 8. (1) No institution shall open in Kenya a branch or a new place of
business or change the location of a branch or an existing place of
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| business | business in Kenya without the approval of the Central Bank. | |
| No. 9 of 2006 | (2) Before granting an approval under subsection (1), the Central Bank may require to be satisfied as to:- | |
| No. 9 of 2006 | (a) the history and financial condition of the institution; (b) the character of its management; (c) the professional and moral suitability of its management; (d) the adequacy of its capital structure and earning prospects; (e) the convenience and needs of the area to be served, and that the public interest will be served by the opening of a branch or a new place of business or, as the case may be, the change of location of the place of business. | |
| No. 9 of 2006 | (2A) | If the opening or change for which approval has been given under subsection (1) does not occur within twelve months after the approval is given, the approval shall lapse. |
| No. 9 of 2006 | (2B) Subsection (2A) shall not apply to an approval given before that subsection came into operation. | |
| No. 9 of 2006 | (3) No institution shall close any of its places of business in Kenya without first giving to the Central Bank six months' written notice of its intention to do so or such shorter period of notice as the Central Bank may allow. | |
| No. 10 of 2010 | (4)The Central Bank shall prescribe the manner in which approvals under this section shall be granted. | |
| Branches and Subsidiaries | 8A | (1) No institution shall open a branch or establish a subsidiary outside |
| No. 10 of 2006 | Kenya, except with the prior approval of the Minister. | |
| (2) An institution seeking approval under subsection (1) shall apply, in writing, to the Minister through the Central Bank. (3) Before granting approval under subsection (1), the Minister may |
| Amalgamations | and | ||
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| transfers | of | assets | and |
| liabilities No. 9 of 2000 |
require to be satisfied as to- (a) the history and financial condition of the institution; (b) the adequacy of the institution's capital structure; (c) the viability and earning prospects of the proposed branch or subsidiary; and (d) such other matter as may have a bearing on the institution or proposed branch or subsidiary as the Central Bank may require.
(4) An institution intending to close any of its branches or subsidiaries outside Kenya shall give notice in writing to the Minister, through the Central Bank of its intention, at least six months before the date of the intended closure, or within such shorter period as the Minister may, in any particular case, allow.
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the Central Bank may, subject to such conditions or limitations as it may prescribe, permit an institution to provide such services as it may, in any particular case, specify, to its customers who are outside the country through banking institutions located outside Kenya.
No. 4 of 2012 9. (1) No amalgamation or arrangement which involves an institution as one of the principal parties to the relevant transaction, and no arrangement for the transfer of all or any part of the assets and liabilities of an institution to another person, shall have legal force except with the prior written approval of the Minister.
(2) The Minister may grant his approval under subsection (1) if:- (a) he is satisfied that the transaction in question will not be detrimental to the public interest; (b) in the case of an amalgamation, the amalgamation is of institutions only; or (c) in case of a transfer of assets and liabilities which entails the transfer by the transferor institution of the whole or any part of its business as an institution, such transfer is effected to another institution approved by the Minister for the purpose of the said transfer.
(3) Upon the coming into effect of a transaction effecting the amalgamation or acquisition of one institution by another institution, or effecting the transfer of all or part of the assets and liabilities of one financial institution to another institution pursuant to this section:- (a) all the assets and liabilities of the amalgamating institutions or, in the case of a transfer of assets and liabilities, those assets and liabilities of the transferor institution that are transferred in terms of the transaction shall vest in and become binding upon the amalgamated institution or, as the case may be, the receiving institution; (b) the amalgamated institutions or, in the case of the transfer of assets and liabilities, the receiving institution shall have the same rights and be subject to the same obligations as those which the amalgamating institution or, as the case may be, the transferor institution may have had or to which they or it may have been subject immediately before the amalgamation or transfer; (c) all agreements, appointments, transactions and documents entered into, made, drawn up or executed with, by or in favour of any of the amalgamating institutions or, as the case may be, the transferor institution and in force immediately prior to the amalgamation or transfer, but excluding such agreements, appointments, transactions and documents that, by virtue of the terms and conditions of the amalgamation or transfer, are not to be retained in force, shall remain in full force and effect and shall be construed for all purposes as if they had been entered into, made, up or executed with, by or in favour of the amalgamated institution or, as the case may be, the receiving institution or person to whom the assets and liabilities in question are transferred; and (d) any bond, pledge, guarantee or instrument to secure future advances, facilities or services by any of the amalgamating institutions or, as the case may be, by the transferor institution, which was in force immediately prior to the amalgamation or transfer, shall remain of full force and effect and shall be construed as a bond, pledge, guarantee or instrument given to or in favour of the amalgamated institution or, as the case may be, the receiving institution or person to whom such assets and liabilities are transferred, as security for future advances, facilities or services by that financial institution or person except where, in the case of such transfer, any obligation to provide such advances, facilities or services is not included in the transfer.
(4) Any amalgamation or arrangement or any arrangement for the
| transfer of assets and liabilities, shall be subject to:- |
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| (b) in the case of a transaction effecting the transfer of assets and liabilities of one institution to another institution, to confirmation at a general meeting of shareholders of the transferor institution and the receiving institution and the notice convening such a meeting shall contain or have attached to it the terms and conditions or the relevant agreement or arrangement. amalgamation or arrangement, or any arrangement for the transfer of assets and liabilities, together with a copy of such resolution and the terms and conditions of the relevant agreement or arrangement, duly certified by the chairperson of the meeting at which such resolution was passed and by the secretary of the institution concerned shall be sent to the Central Bank by each of the institutions involved and after receipt of such notices from all the parties to the relevant agreement or arrangement, the Central Bank shall publish those notices. |
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(a) confirmation at a general meeting of shareholders of each of
the institutions concerned; or
(6) Upon the publication by the Central Bank of the notices referred to in subsection (5) - (a)of any amalgamation of two or more institutions, the licences of each of the amalgamating institutions shall be deemed to be cancelled and shall be withdrawn by the Central Bank, and on payment by the resulting institution of the No. 9 of 2006 No. 9 of 2006 prescribed licence fee, the Central Bank shall register such institution subject mutatis mutandis to the provisions of section 5 as an institution; or (b)of any arrangement for the transfer of all the assets and liabilities of an institution, the licence of such institution shall be deemed to be cancelled and shall be withdrawn by the Central Bank.
No. 9 of 2006(7) Upon the licensing of an institution pursuant to subsection (6), the Central Bank shall issue a licence to the institution.
(8) The Registrar of Companies and the Registrar of Titles, and every officer or person in charge of a deeds registry or any other relevant office shall, if in his office or in any register under his control - (a) there is registered any title to property belonging to, or any bond or other right in favour of, or any appointment of or by; or (b) there is registered any share, stock, debenture or other marketable security in favour; or (c) there has been issued any licence to or in favour of any amalgamating or transferor institution, and if satisfied:- (i) that the Minister has approved the amalgamation or transfer pursuant to subsection (1); and (ii) that such amalgamation or transfer has been duly effected, and upon production to him of any relevant deed, bond, share, stock debenture, certificate, letter of appointment, licence or other document, make such endorsements thereon and effect such alterations in his registers as may be necessary to record the transfer of the relevant property bond or other right, share, stock, No. 9 of 2006 debenture, marketable security, letter or appointment or licence and of any rights thereunder to the resulting institution or, as the case may be, to the receiving institution.
(9) No transfer fees, stamp duty, registration fees, licence duty or other charges shall be payable in respect of:- (a) a transfer of assets and liabilities under subsection (3); or (b) any endorsement or alteration made to record such transfer, upon submission to the Registrar of Companies, Registrar of Titles or any other person referred to in subsection (8).
(10) The provisions of this section shall not affect the rights of any creditor or any institution which has amalgamated with or transferred all its assets and liabilities to any other institution or taken over all the assets and liabilities of any other institution, except to the extent provided in this section.
"amalgamating institutions" means the institutions contemplating effecting an amalgamation; "receiving institution" means the institution to which assets and liabilities are transferred through a transaction effected under this section; "resulting institution" means the institution resulting from an amalgamation effected under this section; "transferor institution" means the institution which transfers its assets and liabilities to a receiving institution.
Directors chief executive officers and significant 9A (1) An institution shall ensure that no person is appointed or elected as a director or appointed as a senior officer unless the Central Bank has certified the person as a fit and proper person to manage or
| control the institution. | |
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| (2) A person shall ensure that the person does not become a significa | nt |
| shareholder of an institution unless the Central Bank has certified |
| institution. |
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| shareholders to be fit and proper No. 9 of 2006 |
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| (a) | when the shareholder initially becomes a significant shareholder after the commencement of this section; | |
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| (b) | when a new institution is applying for a licence to commence business under the provisions of this Act; | |
| (d) when new evidence becomes available to the Central | Bank | |
| indicating that an already existing significant shareholder does not fulfill the fit and proper criteria as set out in Part B of the First Schedule. | ||
| No.14 of 2015 | (3A) | Notwithstanding any other provision in this section, the Central Bank may vet any shareholder who is not a significant shareholder if- (a) the Central Bank has reason to believe or reasonably suspect that such shareholder has reduced its direct or indirect shareholding in an institution or in a corporate entity to below 5% in order to avoid vetting; or (b) the shareholder exercises or has the capacity to exercise direct or indirect control of the institution or corporate entity through his or its associates. |
| No.14 of 2015 | ( 3B) For the purposes of subsection (3A)(b) "control" means- (a) the ability to influence the management of an institution, a corporate shareholder of an institution or a corporate entity seeking to become an institution; or |
the person as a fit and proper person to manage or control the (3) For the purpose of certification under subsection (2), the Central Bank shall vet a significant shareholder- (b) the ability to influence, directly or indirectly, the decisions of the shareholders of an institution, a corporate
| shareholder of an institution or a corporate entity seeking to become an institution. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No.14 of 2015 | (3C) | Any non-significant shareholder proposed to be vetted under | ||
| this section shall be vetted in accordance with the criteria set out in Part B of the First Schedule and the vetting requirements for significant shareholders set out in the Prudential Guidelines. | ||||
| (3D) | A non-significant shareholder, upon being determined by the | |||
| No.14 of 2015 | Central Bank as not fulfilling the fit and proper criteria as set out in Part B of the First Schedule shall be subject to the limitation set out in subsection (4)(a)of this section and may in addition be directed by the Central Bank to cease any form of association or relationship with a particular person or institution. | |||
| (4) A significant shareholder, upon being determined by the Central Bank as not fulfilling the fit and proper criteria as set out in Part B of the First Schedule, shall:- (a) cease to exercise all his voting rights immediately upon the institution being notified by the Central Bank in writing that the shareholder does not fulfill the fit and proper criteria as set out in Part B of the First Schedule; and | ||||
| (b) | reduce the holding of shares to below five percent | |||
| No.14 of 2015 | of the share capital in the institution within twelve months, or such longer period as the Central Bank may determine. | |||
| (5) | The Central Bank may determine that a person who already is a | |||
| director or senior officer of an institution is not a fit and proper person to manage or control the institution and upon the institution being notified in writing of that determination, the person shall, if he is a director or senior officer, cease to hold office. | ||||
| No. 14 of 2015 | (6) ( Repealed) |
| Limited | on |
|---|---|
| advances, | credits |
| and guarantees. No. 13 of 1994 s.7 |
(7) In determining whether or not a person is a fit and proper person to manage or control an institution the Central Bank shall apply the criteria prescribed in the First Schedule to determine whether the Central Bank is satisfied as to the professional and moral suitability of the person.
(8) For the purposes of this section and of the First Schedule, "senior officer" means a person who manages or controls an institution licensed under the Act, and includes:- (a) the chief executive officer, deputy chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, secretary to the board of directors, treasurer, chief internal auditor, or manager of a significant unit of an institution licensed under this Act; (b) a person with a similar level of position or responsibilities as a person described in paragraph (a).
(2) The provisions of this section shall not apply to No. 9 0f 2006 transactions with a public entity or to transactions between banks or between branches of a bank, or to the purchase of or advances made against clean or documentary bills of exchange or documents of title to goods entitling some person to payment outside Kenya for imports.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (1), reference to any person include that person and his associates; and- (a) the advances, credit facilities, financial guarantees and other liabilities of that person and his associates shall be aggregated for the calculation of their total value; and (b) the restriction imposed by subsection (1) shall apply to advances, credit facilities, financial guarantees and other liabilities to or in respect of that person and his associates.
No. 13 of 1994 (4) The provisions of subsection (1) shall not apply to any advance or credit facility granted, or any financial guarantee given, or any other liability incurred, by an institution on behalf of any person before the commencement of this section.
(ii) is made in the normal course of business and on terms similar to those offered to ordinary customers of the institution.
and the institution shall notify the Central Bank of every approval given pursuant to subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, within seven days of such approval;
| "fraudulent" includes intentional deception, false and | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| material representation, concealment or non-disclosure of | |||||||
| a | material | fact | or | misleading | conduct, | device | or |
| contrivance that results in loss and injury to the institution | |||||||
| with an intended gain to the officer of the institution or to | |||||||
| a customer of the institution: |
| No. 9 of 2000 | (1A) In relation to conduct contemplated under paragraph (h | ) |
|---|---|---|
| of subsection (1)- |
| credit facilities or give any financial guarantees or incur any other liabilities to, or in favour of, or on behalf of, a person mentioned in paragraphs (c),(d) or (e) and his associates amounting in the aggregate, for that person and all his associates, to more than twenty per cent of the core capital of the institution; |
|---|
| (g) grant or permit to be outstanding advances or credit facilities or give any financial guarantee or incur any other liabilities to or in favour of, or on behalf of, its associates and the persons mentioned in paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) amounting in the aggregate to more than one hundred per cent of the core capital of the institution; or (h) grant any advance or credit facility or give guarantee or incur any liability or enter into any contract or transaction or conduct its business or part thereof in a fraudulent or reckless manner or otherwise than in compliance with the provisions of this Act. |
"reckless" includes - (a)transacting business beyond the limits set under this Act or the Central Bank of Kenya Act; (b)offering facilities contrary to any guidelines or regulations issued by the Central Bank; (c)failing to observe the institution's policies as approved by the Board of Directors; or (d)misuse of position or facilities of the institution for personal gain.
(1B) If the Central Bank determines that the interest of a group of two or more persons are so inter-related as to cause them to be considered as a single person or that an associate relationship exists, then for the purposes of this section, the total indebtedness of that group shall be combined and shall be deemed to be in respect of a single person or a person and the person's associates; (2) The prohibitions contained in subsection (1) shall apply whether or not the advance, loan or credit facility in question is granted to any person alone or with others.
No. 5 of 1998 (3) Where an institution contravenes any of the provisions of this section- (a) all officers of the institution shall be liable jointly and severally to indemnify the institution against any loss arising in respect of the advance, loan or credit facility: Provided that in the case of an advance, loan or credit facility to a person other than a director of the institution or a person participating in the general management of the institution, an officer shall not be so liable if he shows that, through no act or omission on his part, he was not aware that the contravention was taking place or was intended or about to take place, or he took all reasonable steps to prevent it taking place; No. 57 of 2012
| (b)the Central Bank may, in the case of an advance, loan or credit facility to a director of the institution, direct the removal of such director from the board of directors of the institution and may direct the suspension of any other officer or employee of the institution who sanctioned the advance, loan or credit facility and the institution shall comply with every direction of the Central Bank under this paragraph forthwith | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. 5 of 1998 | (4) | If any director removed, or officer or other employee of an institution suspended under subsection (3) is aggrieved by such decision, he may apply to the High Court for determination of the matter and the High Court may confirm, reverse or modify the decision and make such other order in the circumstances as it thinks just; and pending the determination of any application or appeal therefrom, the order, removal or suspension shall remain in effect. |
| No. 5 of 1998 | (5) | A director of an institution who defaults in the repayment of any advance or loan made to him by the institution for three consecutive months shall forthwith be disqualified from holding office as such. |
| (6) An institution which:- (a) fails to comply with any direction of the Central Bank under subsection (3)(b); or (b) permits a director who is disqualified by virtue of subsection (5) to continue holding office as such, shall be guilty of an offence. | ||
| No. 5 of 1998 | (7) Where an offence under subsection (6) continues, the institution shall, in addition to the penalty prescribed under section 49, be liable to such penalty as may be prescribed for each day or part thereof during which |
| the offence continues. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 9 of 2006 | (8) The regulations under section 55 may govern the steps an institution is required to take to ensure that is does not, contrary to subsection (1)(f), permit to be outstanding anything described in that provision and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the regulations may impose time limits within which the steps must be taken. | ||
| No. 57 of 2012 | (9) the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) shall apply to a banking group on a consolidated basis. | ||
| Restriction | on | 12. | An institution shall not:- |
| trading | and | ||
| investments. No. 8 of 2009 | (a) | engage, alone or with others, in wholesale or retail trade, including the import or export trade, except in the course of the satisfaction of debts due to it; and any trading interest carried on by an institution at the commencement of this Act shall be disposed of by the institution within such time as the Central Bank may allow; | |
| (b) | acquire or hold, directly or indirectly, any part of the share capital of, or otherwise have a beneficial interest in, any financial, commercial, agricultural, industrial or other undertaking where the value of the institution's interest would exceed in the aggregate twenty-five per cent of the core capital of that institution: | ||
| Provided that- (i) an institution may take an interest in such an undertaking in satisfaction of a debt due to it but, if it does so, it shall dispose of the interest within such time as the Central Bank may allow; | |||
| No. 8 of 2009 | ii) a shareholding in any corporation established for the purpose of promoting development in Kenya and approved by the Minister; or in a foreign company which is licensed to carry on the business |
of the institution in its country of incorporation and approved by the Central Bank shall not be subject to the provisions of this paragraph;
| (i) this paragraph does not prevent an institution from | - |
|---|
| (ii) an institution that had purchased or acquired land or any interest or right therein prior to | the |
|---|
| (c) | acquiring land for the purpose of its own development; and |
|---|
| (b) | securing a debt on land and, in the event of default in payment of the debt, holding the land |
|---|---|
| for so long as, in the opinion of the Central | |
| Bank, is needed for the realization of the debt; or |
| No. 8 of 2009 | (iii) approval granted by the Central Bank shall be subject to such conditions as the Central Bank may deem appropriate. | |
|---|---|---|
| No. 6 of 2005 | (c) | purchase or acquire or hold any land or any interest or right therein except such land or interest as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of conducting its business, or for housing or providing amenities for its staff, where the total amount of such investment does not exceed such proportion of its core capital as the Central Bank may prescribe. |
| No. 10 of 2006 | Provided that- |
(a) letting part of any building which is used for the purpose of conducting its business; or or any interest or right therein prior to the commencement of this paragraph, shall endeavor to bring its holding or interest in that land within the prescribed limits as soon as reasonably practicable after such commencement, and in any event, not later than the 31st December, 2010.
Restrictions on 13. (1) No person other than:-
| ownership of share | (a) another institution; | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| capital | of | an | |
| institution. | (b) the Government of Kenya or the Government of a foreign sovereign state; | ||
| Cap 446 | (c) a state corporation within the meaning of the State Corporations Act; or (d) a foreign company which is licensed to carry on the business of an institution in its country of incorporation, (e) a non-operating holding company approved by the Central Bank | ||
| No. 57 of 2012 | shall hold, directly or indirectly, or otherwise have a beneficial interest in, more than twenty-five per cent of the share capital of any institution. | ||
| No.57 of 2012 | Provided that a non-operating holding company shall obtain prior written approval from the Central Bank before acquiring of holding more than twenty-five percent of the share capital of an institution. | ||
| No.14 of 2015 | (1A) For the | purposes | of subsection (1), reference to |
| "person" shall include a reference to that person's associates. | |||
| (2) | No financial institution or mortgage finance company shall acquire or hold, directly or indirectly, any part of the share capital of, or otherwise have beneficial interest in, any bank. | ||
| No. 4 of 1999 | (3) | Where any share is held by a company, other body | |
| corporate or by a nominee on behalf of another person, the company, other body corporate or the nominee, as the case may be, shall disclose to the institution and to the Central Bank the full particulars of the individual who is the ultimate beneficial owner of the share. | |||
| No. 4 of 2012 |
| (4) | No institution shall transfer more than five percent of its share capital to an individual or an entity except with the prior written approval of the Central Bank. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 9 of 2000 Restrictions | on | ||
| advances | for | 14. | (1) No institution, other than a mortgage finance company, shall, make loans or advances for the purchase, improvement or alteration of land, so that the aggregate amount of those loans or advances exceeds forty per cent of the amount of its total deposit liabilities. |
| purchase of land. No. 10 of 2010 | (2) The Central Bank may authorise an institution to exceed the percentage specified in subsection (1) up to a maximum of seventy per cent. | ||
| No. 10 of 2010 | (3) | The provisions of this section shall not prevent an institution accepting a security over land for a loan or advance made in good faith for any other purpose. | |
| Mortgage | finance | 15. | (1) A mortgage finance company shall make loans:- |
| companies. No. 7 of 2001 | (a) for the purpose of the acquisition, construction, improvement, development, alteration or adaptation for a particular purpose of land in Kenya; and (b) the repayment of which, with interest and other charges, is secured by first mortgage or charge over land with or without additional security or personal or other guarantees. | ||
| No. 7 of 2001 | (2) subject to this Act, a mortgage finance company may grant other types of credit facilities against securities other than land and may engage in other prudent investment activities. | ||
| Restrictions | on | ||
| deposit taking. No. 8 of 2009 | 16. | (1) Subject to this section, no person, other than an institution which holds a valid licence, or a duly approved agency conducting banking business on behalf of an institution shall invite or accept deposits in the course of carrying on a deposit-taking business. |
(2) For the purposes of this section, "deposit" means a sum of money paid on terms:- (a) under which it will be repaid, with or without interest or a premium, and either on demand or at a time or in circumstances agreed by or on behalf of the person making the payment and the person receiving it; and (b) which are not referable to the provision of property or services or the giving of security.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(b), money is paid on terms which are referable to the provision of property or services or to the giving of security if, and only if:- (a) it is paid by way of advance or part payment under a contract for the sale, hire or other provisions of property or services, and is repayable only in the event that the property or services is not or are not in fact sold, hired or otherwise provided; (b) it is paid by way of security for the performance of a contract or by way of security in respect of loss which may result from the non-performance of a contract; or (c) without prejudice to paragraph (b), it is paid by way of security for the delivery up or return of any property whether in a particular state of repair or otherwise.
(4) For the purposes of this section, "deposit" does not include:- (a) a sum paid by the Central Bank or by an institution or the persons mentioned in section 54; or (b) a sum which is paid by a person to an associate of that person.
(5) For the purposes of this section, a business is a deposittaking business if:- (a) in the course of the business money received by way of deposit is lent to others; or (b) any other activity of the business is financed, wholly or to any material extent, out of the capital of or the interest on money received by way of deposit.
(6) Notwithstanding that paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (5) applies to a business, it is not a deposit-taking business for the purposes of this section if:- (a) the person carrying it on does not hold himself out as accepting deposits on a day-to-day basis; and (b) any deposits which are accepted are accepted only on particular occasions, whether or not involving the issue of debentures or other securities.
(7) For the purposes of subsection (5), all the activities which a person carries on by way of business shall be regarded as a single business carried on by him.
(8) In determining, for the purposes of subsection (6)(b), whether deposits are accepted only on particular occasions regard shall be had to the frequency of those occasions and to any characteristics distinguishing them from each other.
(9) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand shillings or to both.
charges and 16A. (1) No institution shall impose any form of charges on a savings, seven day call or fixed deposits account.
Imposition of
| Minimum | liquid |
|---|
| payment of interest No. 9 of 2006 No. 8 of 2008 |
|---|
(2) An institution shall, in respect of a savings account, pay interest accruing, or a return in the case of an institution carrying out business in accordance with Islamic law, to that account as long as the minimum balance is maintained.
(3) An institution shall, in respect of a seven day call or fixed deposit account, pay interest accruing to the account on agreed contractual terms: Provided that such interest may be forfeited where the deposit is uplifted before the maturity date.
Ratio between Capital & Assets. No. 57 of 2012 18. (1) The Central Bank may prescribe the minimum ratios which shall be maintained by institutions and banking groups as between their core capital and total capital on one hand and their risk weighted assets (including their total loans and advances) and risk-weighted off balance sheet items on the other and for that purpose, may also determine the method of classifying and evaluating assets: Provided that the Central Bank may prescribe higher minimum ratios based on its assessment of an institution's or banking group's risk profile.
No. 57 of 2012 (2) A non-operating holding company or any other vehicle of ownership which controls a group shall, in relation to its business, maintain adequate capital and adequate forms of liquidity to demonstrate that it is a source of strength for the institution and shall comply with any regulations issued by the Central bank on minimum ratios or capital requirements in any other form.
assets 19. (1) An institution shall maintain such minimum holding of liquid assets as the Central Bank may from time to time determine.
Ratio between core capital and deposits. No. 4 of 1999 (2) For the purpose of this section, "liquid assets" means all or any of the following:- (a) notes and coins which are legal tender in Kenya; (b) balances held at the Central Bank; (c) balances at other banks in Kenya after deducting there from balances owed to those other banks; (d) balances at banks abroad withdrawable on demand or short notice and money at call abroad after deducting there from balances owed to banks abroad where the balances and money at call and short notice are denominated in convertible currencies; and for the purposes of this paragraph "bank abroad" means a bank outside Kenya or an office outside Kenya of any bank; (e) Kenya treasury bills and bonds of a maturity not exceeding ninety-one days which are freely marketable and re-discountable at the Central Bank; (f) such other assets as the Central Bank may specify.
(3) Any institution which fails to comply, within such time as the Central Bank may prescribe, with any requirement of subsection (1) shall be liable to pay, on being called upon to do so by the Central Bank, a penalty interest charge not exceeding one per cent of the amount of the deficiency for everyday on which the offence continues.
| Restrictions | on |
|---|---|
| dividends. No.8 of 2009 |
has been written off and provision has been made for loans, advances and other assets in accordance with subsection (2).
(2) Every institution shall:
| (2) Every institution shall: | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. 8 of 2009 | (a) make provision for loans, advances and other assets | |
| No. 8 of 2009 | before any profit or loss is declared; and | |
| (b)ensure that the provision for loans, advances and other assets made under paragraph (a) is adequate according to such guidelines as may be prescribed by the Central Bank. | ||
| Financial year | 20 A | (1) The financial year of every institution shall be the period of twelve months ending on the 31st December in each |
| No. 13 of 1994 s.8 | year. |
(2) Where the financial year of an institution is different from that prescribed in this section, the institution shall, within twelve months of the commencement of this section, change its financial year to comply with the provision of this section.
Form of accounts 21. (1) All entries in any books and all accounts kept by an institution shall be recorded and kept in the English language, using the system of numerals employed in Government accounts.
(2) The Central Bank may, at any time, issue directions to an institution requiring it to maintain such books, records or information, in addition to any books, records or information then already maintained by it, as the Central Bank may consider to be necessary.
No. 57 of 2012 (3) The financial statements shall be in accordance with international financial reporting standards, including applicable consolidated accounting principles for groups.
(4) The Central Bank may, for regulatory purposes, require an
| No. 57 of 2012 | additional | accounting | consolidation | which | excludes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| insurance and such other subsidiaries as the Central bank may prescribe. | |||||||||
| Accounts | to | be | |||||||
| exhibited. No. 57 of 2012 | 22. | (1) | Every institution shall: (c) exhibit throughout the year in a conspicuous position in every office and branch in Kenya' a copy of its last audited financial statements which shall be in conformity with the minimum financial disclosure requirements prescribed from time to time by the Central Bank together with the full and correct names of all persons who are officers of the institution in Kenya; and (d) within three months of the end of each financial year, cause a copy of the balance sheet and last audited income statements for that financial year to be published in a newspaper with wide circulation. | ||||||
| No. 57 of 2012 | (2) | The | financial | statements | shall | be | in | keeping | with |
| international | financial | reporting | standards, | including | |||||
| applicable consolidated accounting principles for groups. | |||||||||
| Submission | of | ||||||||
| accounts | to | the | |||||||
| Central Bank. No. 3 of 1997 s.10 | 23. | (1) | An institution shall, not later than three months after the end of its financial year, submit to the Central Bank an audited balance sheet, showing its assets and liabilities in Kenya, and an audited profit and loss account covering its activities in Kenya together with a copy of the auditor's report, in the prescribed form. | ||||||
| No. 8 of 2008 | (2) An institution which is incorporated outside Kenya, and an institution which is incorporated in Kenya and maintains subsidiaries or branches outside Kenya, shall submit to the Central Bank, with the balance sheet and accounts referred to in subsection (1), an audited balance sheet and an audited profit and loss account of the institution as a whole. | ||||||||
| Appointment | of | 24. | (1) | Subject to subsection (7), every institution shall appoint | |||||
| Auditors | annually an auditor qualified under section | 161 of | the |
Companies Act and approved by the Central Bank, whose duty shall be to audit and make a report upon the annual balance sheet and profit and loss account which are to be submitted to the Central Bank under section 23(1).
(2) If an institution fails to appoint an approved auditor under subsection (1), or to fill any vacancy for an auditor which may arise, the Central Bank may appoint an auditor and fix the remuneration to be paid by the institution to him.
(3) The Central Bank may require an auditor to undertake the following duties in addition to those provided under subsection (1):- (a) to submit such additional information in relation to his audit as the Central Bank may consider necessary; (b) to carry out any other special investigation; and (c) to submit a report on any of the matters referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b); and the institution concerned shall remunerate the auditor in respect of the discharge by him of all or any of such additional duties.
(4) If the auditor of an institution, in the course of the performance of his duties under this Act, is satisfied that:- (a) there has been a serious breach of or non-compliance with the provisions of this Act, the Central Bank of Kenya Act or the regulations, guidelines or other matters prescribed by the Central Bank; (b) a criminal offence involving fraud or other dishonesty has been committed by the institution or any of its officers or employees; (c) losses have been incurred which reduce the core capital of the institution by fifty per cent or more; Cap.491 (d) serious irregularities have occurred which may jeopardize the security of depositors or creditors of the institution; or (e) he is unable to confirm that the claims of depositors and creditors of the institution are capable of being met out of the assets of the institution, he shall immediately report the matter to the Central Bank.
(5) The Central Bank may arrange trilateral meetings with an institution and its auditor from time to time, to discuss matters relevant to the Central Bank's supervisory responsibilities which have arisen in the course of the statutory audit of the institution including relevant aspects of the institution's business, its accounting and control system and its annual accounts.
(6) If an auditor of an institution fails to comply with the requirements of this Act, the Central Bank may remove him from office and appoint another person in his place.
(7) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as an auditor of an institution if he is:- (a) a director, officer or employee of that institution; or (b) a person who is a partner of a director, officer or employee of that institution; or (c) a person who is an employer or employee of a director, officer or employee of that institution; or (d) a person who is a director, officer or employee of an associate of that institution; or (e) a person who, by himself, or his partner or his employee, regularly performs the duties of secretary or book-keeper for that institution; or Change of Auditors to be notified to Central Bank.25.
No. 13 of 1994 s.11 Auditor's duty of (f) a firm or member of a firm of auditors of which any partner or employee falls within the above categories.
(2) An auditor of an institution shall forthwith give written notice to the Central Bank if he:- (a) resigns from office; (b) does not seek to be re-appointed; or (c) includes in his report or draft report on the institution's accounts any qualification which did not appear in the accounts for the preceding financial year.
(3) An institution aggrieved by a decision of the Central Bank under subsection (1) may appeal to the Minister within 14 days.
(4) The decision of the Minister under subsection (3) shall be final.
confidence.
(2) This section applies to any matter of which an auditor becomes aware in his capacity as an auditor or in the discharge of his duties under this Part and which relates to the business or affairs of the institution or any associate of that institution.
PART VI - INFORMATION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
| Collection | of | |
|---|---|---|
| information | by | |
| Central Bank No. 8 of 2009 | 27. | The Central Bank shall collect such data and other information as may be necessary to enable it to maintain supervision and surveillance of the affairs of institutions or their duly authorized agencies and the protection of their depositors and, for this purpose, may require institutions or their duly authorized agencies to submit statistical and other returns on a periodic basis in addition to any other returns required by law. |
| Furnishing | of | |
| information. No. 8 of 2009 | 28. | (1) The Central Bank may require any institution and their agencies to furnish to it, at such time and in such manner as it may direct, such information as the Central Bank may reasonably require for the proper discharge of its functions under this Act. |
| No. 4 of 1999 No. 57 of 2012 | (2) The information required to be furnished under subsection (1) may include information relating to any company which is an affiliate, an associate or a nonoperating holding company of the institution required to furnish information under that sub-section. | |
| No. 57 of 2012 | (3) In addition to information required from institutions and their agencies pursuant to subsection (2), the Central Bank shall require in writing any associate, non-operating holding company or subsidiary company or any person holding a significant shareholding in an institution, to provide the Central Bank or its appointed agent such information or documents, including financial statements and other financial records, as it may deem necessary to determine whether the provisions of this Act are being duly complied with, and to ascertain- (a) the legal, managerial and operational structure of a group or banking group; (b) the risk profile of a group or banking group and its individual subsidiaries; (c) the way in which internal risk management is organized and conducted within a group or banking group; and (d) the corporate, financial and other linkages existing between members of a group or banking group. |
| Minister | may | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| require | further | ||||||||
| information. | 29. | The Minister may require the Central Bank or an institution to furnish to him, at such time and in such manner as he may direct, such information as the Minister may require. | |||||||
| Time | to | furnish | 30. | Where the Central Bank or an institution is required to furnish | |||||
| information | information under this Part, it shall furnish that information and any supplemental material that may be required as a result of that information within the period specified in this Part or the relevant direction or within such reasonable period thereafter as may be agreed. | ||||||||
| Publication | of | ||||||||
| information | 31. | (1) The Central Bank or the Minister may publish in whole or in part, at such times and in such manner as it or he thinks fit, any information furnished to it or him under this Act: Provided that the information so furnished shall not be published if it would disclose the financial affairs of any person, unless the consent in writing of that person has first been given. (2) Except as provided in this Act, no person shall disclose or publish any information which comes into his possession as a result of the performance of his duties or responsibilities under this Act and, if he does so, he shall, for the purposes of section 49, be deemed to have contravened the provisions of this Act. (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section- | |||||||
| No. 7 of 2001 No. 8 of 2009 | (a) | the Central Bank may disclose any information referred to in subsection (2) to any monetary authority or financial regulatory authority, fiscal or tax agency or fraud investigations agency within or outside Kenya, where such information is reasonably required for the proper discharge of the functions of the Central Bank or the requesting monetary authority or financial regulatory authority, fiscal or tax agency or fraud investigations agency; | |||||||
| No. 8 of 2009 | Provided | that | the | sharing | of | information | with | ||
| institutions outside Kenya shall only apply where |
| there is a reciprocal arrangement. | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. 10 of 2006 No. 9 of 2007 No. 4 of 2012 | (b) | the Deposit Protection Fund Board institutions |
| licensed under this Act and institutions licensed under the Microfinance Act, 2006 shall, in the ordinary course of business and in such manner and to such extent as the Minister may, in regulations, prescribe, exchange such information on non-performing loans as may, from time, to time, be specified by the Central Bank in guidelines under section 33(4); | ||
| No. 10 of 2006 No. 4 of 2012 | (c) | The Central Bank and institutions licensed under this Act and institutions licensed under the Microfinance Act, 2006 may, in the ordinary course of business, in such manner and to such extent as the Minister may, in regulations prescribe, exchange such other information as is reasonably required for the proper discharge of their functions. |
| No. 15 of 2003 | (4) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection | |
| No. 4 of 2012 No. 57 of 2012 | (3)(b) or (c), regulations under that subsection may provide for the establishment and operation of credit reference bureaus, for the purpose of collecting prescribed credit information on clients of institutions licensed under this Act, and institutions licensed under the Microfinance Act, 2006 and the Sacco Societies Act, 2008 and public utility companies and disseminating it amongst such institutions for use in the ordinary course of business, subject to such conditions or limitations as may be prescribed. | |
| (5) | No duty to which the Central Bank, Kenya Deposit | |
| No. 38 of 2013 | Insurance Corporation, a credit reference bureau, an institution licensed under this Act, or the Microfinance Act or their respective officers may be subject, shall be breached by reason of the disclosure, in good faith of any information under subsection (2), to or by, as the case may be - (a) the Central Bank; |
| Inspection | of |
|---|---|
| institution. |
(b) the Kenya Deposit Insurance Corporation; (c) an institution licensed under this Act or the Microfinance Act; (d) a credit reference bureau established under subsection(4); (e) any person carrying out an inspection under section 32; or (f) any person, authority, agency or entity referred to in subsection 3(a) or any other person or authority which may be authorized under any written law or otherwise to share information in the course of the performance of their duties and no action shall lie against the Central Bank, the Kenya Deposit Insurance Corporation, a credit reference bureau, an institution licensed under this Act or the Microfinance Act, 2006 or any of their respective officers on account of such disclosure.
No. 8 of 2009 (2) When an inspection is made under subsection (1), the institution concerned and every officer and employee thereof shall produce and make available to the person making the inspection all the books, accounts, records and other documents of the institution and such correspondence, statements and information relating to the institution, its business and the conduct thereof as the person making the inspection may require and within seven days or such longer time as he may direct in writing;
| and any failure to produce any books, accounts, records, documents, correspondence, statements or information within the period specified in the relevant direction shall constitute a contravention of the provisions of this Act for the purposes of section 49: Provided that- (a) the books, accounts and other documents required to be produced shall not, in the course of the inspection, be removed from the premises of the institution or other premises at which they are produced; (b) the person making the inspection may make copies of any books, accounts and other documents required for the purposes of his report; and (c) all information obtained in the course of the inspection shall be treated as confidential and used solely for the purposes of this Act and of the Central Bank of Kenya Act. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cap. 491. | (3) The person making the inspection shall submit his report to the Central Bank; and the report shall draw attention to any breach or non-observance of the requirements of this Act and any regulations made thereunder, any irregularity in the manner of conduct of the business of the institution inspected, any apparent mismanaging of the business or lack of management skills in that institution and any other matter revealed or discovered in the course of the inspection warranting, in the opinion of the person making the inspection, remedial action or further investigation. | |
| No. 57 of 2012 | (4) | The Central Bank may assist investigative agencies or other authorities in matters related to suspected fraud or malfeasance in institutions by identifying such matters for referral to or at the request of, such agencies or authorities. |
| (5) | For purposes of this Act, the Central Bank shall be the coordinator of the consolidated supervision of groups, and as such may appoint a competent authority from: | |
| No. 57 of 2012 |
(a) amongst the bodies set out in the Third Schedule, or (b) any other entity or entities with expertise in the relevant field to carry out an inspection of the operations of the associate, holding or subsidiary company of an institution, or of any person who exercises control of an institution, in order to satisfy itself that the operations of such associate, company or other person are not detrimental to the safety and soundness of the institution concerned.
Vetting of officials. No. 10 of 2006
| 32A |
|---|
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Central Bank may, from time to time, where it deems it necessary to do so, carry out an assessment of the professional and moral suitability of the persons managing or controlling institutions (2) An assessment under subsection (1) shall be in accordance with the criteria set in the First Schedule.
(3) Where, upon an assessment under this section, the Central Bank is satisfied as to the professional and moral suitability of the persons managing or controlling an institution, it shall so certify in writing to the institution.
(4) A person who, upon an assessment under this section, is not certified by the Central Bank as fit and proper to manage or control an institution, shall be deemed to be disqualified from holding office under section 48.
(1) The Central Bank may upon receipt of a report under section 32(5)- (a) require changes to the legal or management structure of a group or banking group if it determines that such structures in their current form constitute an impediment to the discharge of the Central Bank's supervisory responsibilities; and (b) require a group or banking group to retain a single auditor to provide an overall review of the group or banking group, including such consolidated financial statements as the Central Bank may prescribe.
32B 32B Examination and control of Groups No. 57 of 2012 Powers of Central Bank to advise and direct No. 5 of 1998 33. (1) If, at any time, the Central Bank has reason to believe that:- (a) the business of an institution is being conducted in a manner contrary to or not in compliance with the requirements of this Act or of any regulations made thereunder or in any manner detrimental to or not in the best interest of its depositors or members of the public, or (b) an institution, any of its officers or other person participating in the general management of the institution is engaged in any practice likely to occasion a contravention of any of the provisions of this Act or any regulations made thereunder, the Central Bank may:- (i) give advice and make recommendations to the institution with regard to the conduct of its business generally; (ii) issue directions regarding measures to be taken to improve the management or business methods of the institution or to secure or improve compliance with the requirements of this Act, any regulations made thereunder or any other written law or regulations; (iii) in any case to which paragraph (b) applies, issue directions to the institution, officer or other person to cease such practice; (iv) appoint a person, suitably qualified and competent in the opinion of the Central Bank, to advise and assist the institution generally or for the purposes of implementing any directions under subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) and the advice of a person so appointed shall have the same force and effect as a direction made under subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) and shall be deemed to be a direction of the Central Bank under this section.
| No. 57 of 2012 | (1A) If the Central Bank determines- (a) that any member of a group other than an institution has committed any violation of this Act, or (b)that the activities of any such member are having a detrimental impact on the institution or may jeopardize the interest of depositors; the Central bank may direct the member to eliminate such irregularities within such period as it may determine. | |
|---|---|---|
| No. 57 of 2012 | (1B) The Central Bank may appoint a competent authority from amongst the bodies set out in the Third Schedule or any other entity with expertise in the relevant field to carry out the enforcement of the direction issued under subsection (1A). | |
| No. 57 of 2012 | (1C) The Central Bank may, in addition to the actions specified under subsection (1B), further direct the concerned party to- (a) suspend any further investment by the institution in a subsidiary company; (b) suspend the exercise of a non-operating holding company's control of the institution; (c) suspend transactions between any associated entity and the institution; or (d) suspend participation of any person in the affairs of the institution. | |
| No. 4 of 2012 | (2). | The Central Bank shall, before issuing a direction under subsection (1), serve upon the institution, officer or other person, a notice of such intent specifying the reasons therefore and requiring the institution, officer or other persons within such period as may be specified in the notice, to show cause why such direction should not be issued. |
| (3). | An institution which receives a direction under the |
provisions of this section shall comply with the direction within such period as may be specified in the direction and, if so required, shall produce evidence that it has done so.
(4). The Central Bank may issue directions to institutions generally for the better carrying out of its functions under this Act and in particular, with respect to:- (a) the standards to be adhered to by an institution in the conduct of its business in Kenya or in any country where a branch or subsidiary of the institution is located; and (b) guidelines to be adhered to by institutions in order to maintain a stable and efficient banking and financial system.
(5). A person who fails to comply with any direction under this section commits an offence and shall, in addition to the penalty prescribed under section 49, be liable to such additional penalty as may be prescribed for each day or part thereof during which the offence continues.
33A. Where an auditor's report, under section 24(4) or an inspection report under this Part reveals that an institution conducts its business in a manner contrary to the provisions of this Act, or in any manner detrimental to or not in the best interests of its depositors or members of the public, or than an institution is undercapitalized, the Central Bank may:- (a) restrict, suspend or prohibit the payment of dividends by the institution; (b) prohibit the conversion of any profits of the institution into capital; (c) direct the suspension or removal of any officer involved in such conduct from the service of the institution; (d) require the institution to reconstitute its board of directors in accordance with the criteria set out in the Powers upon audit or inspection report. No. 10 of 2010 First Schedule; (e) withhold branch or other corporate approval with respect to such institution; (f) undertake more frequent inspections of that institution; (g) order the institution to submit to the Central Bank, within forty-five days, a capital restoration plan to restore the institution to the capital adequacy prescribed in section 18, or, in the case of issues unrelated to capital, a plan to resolve all deficiencies to the satisfaction of the Central Bank; (h) prohibit the institution from awarding any bonuses or increments in salary, emoluments or other benefits to the directors and officers of the institution; (i) at the expense of the institution, appoint a person suitably qualified and competent, in the opinion of the Central Bank, to advise and assist the institution in designing and implementing a capital restoration plan or other corrective action plan under paragraph (g), and the person appointed shall regularly report to the Central Bank on the progress of the plan; (j) impose restrictions on growth of assets or liabilities of the institution as it deems fit; (k) restrict the rate of interest on savings and time deposits payable by the institution to such rates as the Central Bank shall determine; or (l) order the institution to do any or take such other actions as it may deem necessary to rectify a capital deficiency or other weaknesses.
| Powers of Central Bank to intervene in management | 34. | (1) | This section applies, and the powers conferred by | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| subsection (2) may be exercised, in the following circumstances:- (a) if the institution fails to meet any financial obligation, when it falls due including an obligation to pay any depositor; (b) if a petition is filed, or a resolution proposed, for the winding up of the institution or if any receiver or receiver and manager or similar officer is appointed in respect of the institution or in respect of all or any part of its assets; (c) if the auditor of an institution makes a report to the Central Bank under the provisions of subsection (4) of section 24; (d) if the Central Bank discovers (whether on an inspection or otherwise) or becomes aware of any fact or circumstance which, in the opinion of the Central Bank, warrants the exercise of the relevant power in the interests of the institution or its depositors or other creditors. (e) If the institution is significantly undercapitalized; or | |||||||
| No. 10 of 2010 No. 10 of 2010 | (f) | if the institution fails: (i) to submit a capital restoration plan or a plan to resolve all deficiencies as directed under section 33A; or (ii) to add more capital, and it fails, neglects or refuses to comply with an order or to implement a plan of correction. | |||||
| No. 10 of 2010 | (2) In any case to which this section applies, the Central Bank may:- (a) ( Repealed). | ||||||
| No.14 of 2015 | (b) | Appoint | Kenya | Deposit | Insurance | ||
| Corporation | to | assume | the | management, |
control and conduct of the affairs and business of an institution and to exercise all the powers of the institution to the exclusion of its board of directors including the use of its corporate seal; (c) remove any officer or employee of an institution who, in the opinion of the Central Bank, has caused or contributed to any contravention of any provision of this Act or any regulations made thereunder, or to any deterioration in the financial stability of the institution, or has been guilty of conduct detrimental to the interests of depositors or other creditors of the institution; (d) appoint a competent person familiar with the business of the institution to its board of directors to hold office as a director, who shall not be capable of being removed from office without the approval of the Central Bank; (e) by notice in the Gazette, revoke or cancel any existing power of attorney, mandate, appointment or other authority by the institution in favour of any officer or employee or any other person; (f) restrict the institution from engaging in new foreign exchange business; (g) prohibit the institution from engaging in new off-balance sheet transactions; and (h) prohibit the institution from engaging any new agents or direct the institution to terminate any agency arrangement.
| No.14 of 2015 | (3A) ( Repealed) | |
|---|---|---|
| No.14 of 2015 | (3B) ( Repealed) | |
| No. 57 of 2012 | (4) ( Repealed). | |
| No. 57 of 2012 | (5) ( Repealed) (6) ( Repealed) | |
| No. 4 of 1998 | (7) If any officer or employee of an institution removed under the provisions of subsection (2) is aggrieved by the decision, he may apply to the High Court and the court may confirm, reverse or modify the decision and make such other order in the circumstances as it thinks just; and pending the determination of any application or appeal therefrom, the order or removal shall remain in effect. (8) Neither the Central Bank nor any officer or employee thereof nor any manager nor any other person appointed, designated or approved by the Central Bank under the provisions of this Part shall be liable in respect of any act or omission done in good faith by such officer, employee, manager or other person in the execution of the duties undertaken by him. | |
| Voluntary Liquidations | 34 A | (1) An institution may, with the approval of the Central Bank, voluntarily liquidate itself if it is able to meet all its liabilities. |
| No. 4 of 1999 No. 9 of 2006 | (2) An application for the Central Bank's approval for the | |
| No. 9 of 2006 No. 9 of 2006 | purposes of subsection (1) shall be in the prescribed form. | |
| (3) The Central Bank may, upon receipt of an application under subsection (2), approve the application if satisfied as to the solvency of the institution. | ||
| No. 9 of 2006 | (4) Where the Central Bank approves an application by an institution under this section, such institution shall forthwith cease all its operations except such activities as are incidental to the orderly realization, conservation and preservation of its assets and settlement of its obligations. (5) Where an institution goes into liquidation under this |
section:- (a) the liability of the shareholders of the institution for uncalled subscriptions to the capital stock of the institution shall continue until the end of the liquidation process; and (b) the institution shall first discharge its liability to its depositors and thereafter rank all other creditors in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act.
(6) The Central Bank shall upon approval of a voluntary liquidation, appoint the Kenya Deposit Insurance Corporation to undertake the approved voluntary liquidation.
No.14 of 2015 35. ( Repealed) Liquidation of institutions by Central Bank Cap. 486 No. 5 of 98 Expenses under 35A ( Repealed) Part. No. 13 of 1994 s.13 No. 15 of 2003 s.50 No. 10 of 2010 No. 14 of 2015 Deposit Protection Fund Board 36. ( Repealed) No. 13 of 1994 s. 14 No. 7 of 2001 No. 9 of 2006 36A. ( Repealed) Objects and functions of the Board.
No. 7 of 2001 No. 19 of 2006 No.14 of 2015 No.14 of 2015 Remuneration of Board members No. 7 of 2001 No.14 of 2015 Protection from personal liability No. 7 of 2001 No.14 of 2015 36B. ( Repealed) 36C. (Repealed) .
Deposit Protection Fund. No. 17 of 1985 No. 19 of 2006 37. (Repealed) No. 19 of 2006 Contribution to the Fund 38. ( Repealed) No. 13 of 1994 s.15 No. 13 of 1994 s.15 Protection of deposits 39. ( Repealed) No. 7 of 2001 Cap.486 Limitation of claims No.14 of 2015 39A (Repealed) Rights of the Board 40.( Repealed)
| on insolvency No. 20 of 1989 Rights | of |
|---|---|
| assignment No. 5 of 1998 |
40A (1) The liquidator may assign the assets or liabilities of an an institution or of a customer under this Act, the Companies Act or under any other written law to third parties for the benefit of the creditors and depositors of the institution under liquidation.
(2) The right of assignment conferred by this section shall override all other rights and interests of parties under contracts of employment, leases, charges, mortgages or any other agreements the institution may have entered into before going into liquidation.
(3) Every public officer having the power or duty to accept and register or amend any entry in any register relating to an assignment of an asset or liability pursuant to subsection (1) shall, upon request made by the liquidator, customer or other person, do all such things as are by law necessary to complete the registration of the assignment.
| Powers | of | the |
|---|---|---|
| Board to lend |
| Administration Assets No. 10 of 2010 |
|---|
| Representative officers of foreign institutions No. 9 of 2006 |
|---|
41A ( Repealed) Annual Reports, etc. 42. (Repealed)
| No. 9 of 2006 | (2) The Central Bank may require a representative office to furnish such information as the Central Bank may require at such time and in such manner as the Central Bank may direct. (3) Where a representative office is required to furnish information under subsection (2), it shall furnish that information and any supplemental material that may be required as a result of that information within the period specified in the direction or within such reasonable period thereafter as may be agreed. |
|---|---|
| No. 9 of 2006 | 4) The Central Bank may at any time, if it appears to the Central Bank that a representative office is engaged in banking or financial business or that the affairs of a representative office are being conducted contrary to any condition of an authority granted under subsection (1) or in a manner detrimental to banking or financial business in Kenya, issue directions to the representative office to take such corrective action as the Central Bank considers to be necessary within such period as may be specified in the directions; and, if the representative office fails to comply with such directions, the Central Bank may order that the affairs of a representative office in Kenya be wound up and the office closed within such time as the Central Bank may direct. |
| Restrictions | on | |
|---|---|---|
| increase | in | bank |
| charges |
(3) If a loan becomes non-performing and then the debtor resumes payments on the loan and then the loan becomes non-performing again, the limitation under paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) shall be determined with respect to the time the loan last become non-performing.
(4) This section shall not apply to limit any interest under a court order accruing after the order is made.
(5) In this section- (a)"debtor" includes a person who becomes indebted to an institution because of a guarantee made with respect to the repayment of an amount owed by another person; (b) "loan" includes any advance, credit facility, financial guarantee or any other liability incurred on behalf of any person; and (c) a loan becomes non-performing in such manner as may, from time to time, be stipulated in guidelines prescribed by the Central Bank.
(6) This section shall apply with respect to loans made before this section comes into operation, including loans that have become non-performing before this section comes into
| operation: |
|---|
| (2) Where the approval of the Minister is required under any provision of this Act, the application for such approval shall be submitted through the Central Bank. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bank Holidays | 46. | (1) Where the Minister considers that it is in the public interest that banks, or a particular bank, or a particular branch of a bank, should remain closed on a day which is not a public holiday, he may by notice in the Gazette, declare that day to be a bank holiday for all banks, or for that particular bank, or for that particular branch, as the case may be, and every licensed bank, or that particular bank, or that particular branch, as the case may be, shall remain closed on that day. |
| No. 8 of 2008 | (2)Without prejudice to subsection (1), the Central Bank may, on application by an institution or a branch of an institution, if satisfied that it is necessary to do so, authorize the institution or branch to remain closed on such day or part thereof, or on such days as may be specified in the |
| Minister to consult with the Central Bank | 45. | (1) | The Minister shall consult with the Central Bank in the exercise of his functions under this Act. |
|---|
| (c) expenses incurred in the recovery of any amoun | ts |
|---|---|
| owed by the debtor |
| (b) interest, in accordance with the contract between th | e |
|---|---|
| debtor and the institution, accruing after the day this section comes into operation, not exceeding the principal and interest owing on the day this section comes into operation; and |
| (a) the principal and interest owing on the day this sectio | n |
|---|---|
| comes into operation; and |
Provided that where loans became non-performing before this section comes into operation, the maximum amount referred to in subsection (1) shall be the following- Central Bank may impose.
Orders by High Court 47. (1) The High Court, on application made ex-parte by the Minister or, where a manager or liquidator has been appointed by the Central Bank, may, if it considers it to be in the interests of the depositors of an institution, make an order:- (a) prohibiting the institution from carrying on business; or (b) staying the commencement or continuance of any actions or proceedings against the institution in regard to any business for a specified period of time on such terms and conditions as it considers reasonable, and may from time to time extend the specified period up to a total of six months from the beginning of the stay.
(2) So long as an order under paragraph (a) of subsection (1) remains in force, the licence granted to the institution under this Act shall be deemed to be suspended.
Disqualification of officers 48. (1) A person who is an officer of an institution shall cease to hold office and shall not thereafter be eligible to hold office in any institution if he:- (a) becomes bankrupt or suspends payment or compounds with his creditors; or (b) is convicted of an offence involving dishonesty or fraud; or (bb) is disqualified from holding office under section 32A; or (c) is removed from office under the provisions of section 34.
(2) Any person who continues to act as an officer of an institution after he has been disqualified by virtue of this section shall be guilty of an offence.
| Penalties | for | 49. | Where any institution or other person contravenes any of the | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| offences | provisions of this Act:- (a) if it is a body corporate, it shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand shillings; and (b) every officer of that institution or person shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both unless he proves that, through no act or omission on his part, he was not aware that the contravention was taking place or was intended or about to take place, or that he took all reasonable steps to prevent it taking place. | ||||||||||
| Penalties for default | 50. | (1) Any officer of an institution who:- | |||||||||
| by officers | (a) fails to take all reasonable steps to secure the compliance of the institution with this Act; or (b) fails to take all reasonable steps to secure the accuracy and correctness of any statement submitted under this Act or any other written law applicable to banks or financial institutions; or (c) fails to supply any information required under this Act, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to a fine not exceeding twenty thousand shillings or to both. | ||||||||||
| (2) It shall be a defence to a charge under subsection (1) for an officer to show that he reasonably thought that another competent person had been charged with the responsibility or duty in respect of which the default arose. | |||||||||||
| Misleading advertisement | for | 51. | (1) | Any | institution | or | other | person | who | issues | any |
| advertisement, | brochure, | circular | or | other | document | ||||||
| inviting any person to make a deposit which:- | |||||||||||
| deposits | (a) falsely represents that he is authorized to accept |
| deposits or is otherwise licensed under the provisions of this Act; or | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (b) is issued contrary to any direction given by the Central Bank under the provisions of subsection (2), shall be guilty of an offence. | ||||
| (2) The Central Bank may, at any time direct any person to withdraw, amend or refrain from issuing any advertisement, brochure, circular or other document relating to deposits which, in its sole discretion, it considers to be misleading. | ||||
| Civil obligations Cap 491 | 52. | (1) | For the avoidance of doubt, no contravention of | the |
| provisions of this Act or the Central Bank of Kenya Act shall affect or invalidate in any way any contractual obligation between an institution and any other person. | ||||
| Cap 488/1987 | (2) The provisions of subsection (1) shall | apply with | ||
| retrospective effect to the Banking Act (now repealed) and the Central Bank of Kenya Act. | ||||
| (3) This section shall not permit any institution to recover in any court of law interest and other charges which exceed the maximum permitted under the provisions of this Act or the Central Bank of Kenya Act. | ||||
| Act to prevail in event of conflict | 52A. | (1) Subject to subsection (2), where there is a conflict between the provisions of this Act and the provisions of any other written law applicable to an institution licensed under this Act, the provisions of this Act shall prevail. | ||
| No. 13 of 1994 s.17 No. 4 of 99 Cap. 491 Cap. 470 | (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the expression "written law" does not include the Central Bank of Kenya Act, Income Tax Act, the East African Community Customs Management Act, the Value Added Tax Act or any of the other laws set out in the First Schedule to the Kenya Revenue Authority Act. | |||
| LN No. 1 of 2005 (EAC) Cap. 476 No. 9 of 2007 | 53. | (1) | The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, exempt an institution from the provisions of Section 12, 13 or 14 subject to such conditions as the Minister considers | |
| Exemptions No. 10 of 2006 |
necessary.
(2) An exemption granted under subsection (1) shall remain in force for such period specified in the notice as the Minister shall deem fit.
| Regulations |
|---|
| Act not to apply to | 54. | (1) | This Act does not apply to:- |
|---|---|---|---|
| certain institutions. Cap 493B. | (a) the Kenya Post Office Savings Bank established under the Kenya Post Office Savings Bank Act; (b) the Agricultural Finance Corporation established | ||
| Cap.323. | under the Agricultural Finance Corporation Act; | ||
| (d) | a society registered as a co-operative society under | ||
| Cap.490. | the Co-operative Societies Act. | ||
| No. 8 of 2009 | (e) | a microfinance bank licensed under the Microfinance | |
| No. 10 of | 2010, | Act, 2006. | |
| No.41 0f 2013 | (2) | Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), where any of the bodies referred to in that subsection is contracted by an institution as an agent to provide banking services on behalf of the institution, this Act shall apply to such body to the extent of the services contracted. |
No. 38 of 2013 55.(1) The Central Bank may make regulations generally for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Act.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the Central Bank may, in regulations, prescribe penalties to be paid by institutions or credit reference bureaus (or any other person) that fail or refuse to comply with any directions of the Central Bank under this Act or Prudential Guidelines, which shall not exceed five million Kenya shillings in the case of an institution or credit reference bureau or two hundred thousand shillings in the case of a natural person, and may prescribe additional penalties not exceeding twenty thousand shillings in each case for each day or part thereof during which such failure or refusal continues.
Repeal and savings. 56. (1) The Banking Act (1989) is repealed.
(2)Notwithstanding subsection (1), where upon the commencement of this Act any bank or financial institution is licensed to transact banking business or the business of a financial institution in Kenya, that licence shall have effect as if granted under section 5 of this Act.
No. 9 of 2006 FIRST SCHEDULE PART A CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING PROFESSIONAL AND MORAL SUITABILTY OF DIRECTORS AND SENIOR OFFICERS PROPOSED TO MANAGE OR CONTROL INSTITUTIONS No. 8 of 2008 (a) In order to determine, for the purposes of this Act, the professional and moral suitability of persons, proposed to be directors and senior officers of an institution under section 4, or managing or controlling institutions under section 32A, the Central Bank shall have regard to the following qualities, in so far as they are reasonably determinable, of the person concerned-
| are reasonably determinable, of the person concerned- (i) his possession of adequate professional credentials or experience or both for the position |
|---|
| for which he is proposed; |
(ii) his ability to recommend sound practices gleaned from other situations; (iii) his ability to provide dispassionate advice; (iv) his ability to avoid conflicts of interest in his activities and commitments with other organizations; (v) his ability to absent himself from decisions when he is incapable of providing objective advice.
(a) For the purpose of and without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of paragraph (a), the Central Bank, may have regard to the previous conduct and activities of the person concerned in business or financial matters and, in particular, to any evidence that such person:- (i) has been convicted of the offence of fraud or any other offence of which dishonesty is an element; (ii) has contravened the provisions of any law designed for the protection of members of the public against financial loss due to the dishonesty or incompetence of or malpractices by persons engaged in the provision of banking, insurance, investment or other financial services; (iii) was a director or a senior officer of an institution that has been liquidated or is under liquidation or statutory management under Part VII of this Act; (iv) has taken part in any business practices that, in the opinion of the Central Bank, were fraudulent, prejudicial or otherwise improper (whether unlawful or not) or which otherwise discredited his methods of conducting business; (v) has taken part in or been associated with any other business practices as would, or has otherwise conducted himself in such manner as to cast doubt on his competence and soundness of judgment; Cap.489 (vi) has defaulted in the repayment of any advance or loan made to him by any institution licensed under the Act or a society licensed under Building Societies Act for three consecutive months.
(b) The Central Bank may request any person to furnish such additional information as may be necessary in determining the professional or moral suitability of the person as stipulated under the Act.
CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING MORAL SUITABILITY OF SIGNIFCANT SHAREHOLDERS PROPOSED TO MANAGE OR CONTROL INSTITUTIONS (a) In order to determine, for the purposes of this Act, the moral suitability of significant shareholders of an institution, the Central Bank shall have regard to the previous conduct and activities of the significant shareholder concerned in business or financial matters and, in particular, to any evidence that such person; (i) has been convicted of the offence of fraud or any other offence of which dishonesty is an element; (ii) has contravened the provisions of any law designed for the protection of members of the public against financial loss due to the dishonesty or malpractices by persons engaged in the provision of banking, insurance, investment or other financial services.
(b) For the purposes of determining the moral suitability of a corporate entity, its directors and senior officers shall satisfy the criterion prescribed in paragraph (a) of Part B of this Schedule.
(c) The Central Bank, may request any person or corporate entity to furnish such information as may be necessary in determining the moral suitability of the person as stipulated in the Act.
| Compliance Data | Minimum Core Capital, Banks and Mortgage Finance Companies (Kshs. Million) |
|---|---|
| 31st December, 2009 | 350 |
| 31st December, 2010 | 500 |
| 31st December, 2011 | 700 |
| 31st December, 2012 | 1,000 |
(e) a core capital of at least two hundred million Kenya shillings in the case of a financial institution.
Regulations under section 32 of the Banking Act (now repealed)
| L.N. 116/1969 | THE | BANKING | (LICENCES) | (FORMS | AND | FEES) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REGULATIONS | ||||||
| L. N. 57/2011 Citation | 1. | These Regulations may be cited as the Banking (Licences) (Forms and fees) Regulations | ||||
| Application | for | 2. | An application for the grant of a licence by a bank or | |||
| licences | financial institution shall be submitted in duplicate in the appropriate form set out in the First Schedule and shall be accompanied by such statements as the bank or financial institution considers necessary in support of its application. | |||||
| Form of licence | 3. | A licence granted to a bank or financial institution shall be in the appropriate form set out in the Second Schedule. | ||||
| Fees for licences | 4. | The licence fee shall be sent to the Central Bank of Kenya accompanied by a licence fee payment voucher in duplicate in the appropriate form set out in the Third Schedule. | ||||
| Other fees | 5. | The fees specified in the Fourth Schedule shall be payable for the various matters set out therein. |
FIRST SCHEDULE APPLICATION FOR A LICENCE TO CONDUCT BANKING («3) (Name of bank) of (address) hereby applies for a licence to carry on a banking business.
Country of incorporation.
Situation of registered office .
Situation of principal office in Kenya 3.
List of places of business in Kenya .
Details of Capital - (a) nominal value .
(b) paid-up value .
The number of years that the bank has been established and has conducted 6.
or carried on banking business - (a) in country of incorporation .
(b) in Kenya (c) in other countries 7.
Names and addresses of directors
…… ……… 8. Name and address of general manager or superintendent for Kenya.
(Signature of a director of the bank or the general manager or superintendent for Kenya) Note- This application must be accompanied by balance sheets and profit and loss accounts for each of the five years preceding the date of this application.
APPLICATION FOR A LICENCE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS OF A FORM B FINANCIAL INSTITUTION
…… Date ........................................................................ ( Name of financial institution) of .......................................................................................................... (address) hereby applies for a licence to carry on a business of a financial institution. Particulars 1. Country of incorporation ............................................................................................. 2. Situation of registered office ........................................................................................ 3. Situation of principal office in Kenya ........................................................................ 4. List of places of business in Kenya - ......................................................................................................................................... .............................................................................................................................
(b) paid-up value ............................................................................................
(b) in Kenya .................................................................................................... (c) in other countries. .....................................................................................
Names and addresses of directors .............................................................................................................................. ..............................................................................................................................
Name and address of general manager or superintendent for Kenya.
.............................................................................................................................. ..............................................................................................................................
Date .........................................
. ..........................................................................
(Signature of a director of the financial institution or the general manager or superintendent for Kenya) Note- This application must be accompanied by balance sheets and profit and loss accounts for each of the five years preceding the date of this application.
Form C LICENCE TO CONDUCT A BANKING BUSINESS THIS LICENCE is granted to- .................................................................................................................(name of bank) of ...............................................(address) and authorizes the said bank to conduct or carry on banking business in Kenya. This licence is issued subject to the provisions of the Banking Act and to the conditions endorsed hereon. CONDITIONS Dated this .................................................... day of ...........................................
LICENCE NO........................
( ............................................... ) Central Bank of Kenya Form D LICENCE TO CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION THIS LICENCE is granted to- ............................................................................ (Name of financial institution) of .......................................................................................................... (address) and authorizes the said financial institution to conduct or carry on business of a financial institution in Kenya. This licence is issued subject to the provisions of the Banking Act and to the conditions endorsed hereon. CONDITIONS LICENCE No............................................. ( .............................................. ) Central Bank of Kenya THIRD SCHEDULE**(r.4)** Form E LICENCE FEE PAYMENT VOUCHER (BANK) ............................................................................................................... (Name of bank) of ...................................................................................................................... (address) hereby encloses the fee of ......................................................................................... for *the grant of a licence the annual renewal of Licence No. Dated ................................................................... (Signed) ................................................................. FOR OFFICIAL USE Dated this .................................................. day of .................................... Receipt Received the fee of ................................................................................ in respect of Licence No................................................................................ for the twelve-month period ...................................................... until .............................................................. Date ....................................
( ......................................................... ) Central Bank of Kenya Note:- This form must be forwarded to the Central Bank of Kenya in duplicate.
*Delete whichever is inapplicable. Form F LICENCE FEE PAYMENT VOUCHER (FINANCIAL INSTITUTION) .........................................................................................(name of financial institution) of ..................................................................................................................... (address) hereby encloses the fee of .......................................................................................... for *the grant of a licence the annual renewal of Licence No. FOR OFFICIAL USE Receipt Received the fee of ............................................................................... in respect of Licence No............................................................................... for the twelve-month period .......................................................... until ......................................................... Date ..................................................
( ...............................................................) Central Bank of Kenya Note- This form must be forwarded to the Central Bank of Kenya in duplicate. * Delete whichever is inapplicable.
FOURTH (r.5) SCHEDULE FEES Sh.cts Matter for which fee payable 10.00 Dated ........................................................ (Signed).....................................................
For inspecting statements or other documents For copies or extracts from statements or other documents, other than licences (i) if certified, per folio of 100 words or part thereof 10.00 (ii) if not certified, per folio of 100 words or part thereof 5.00 For copies of licences - (i) if certified 10.00 (ii) if not certified 5.00
L.N. 220/1990 1. These Regulations may be cited as the Banking (Fees) Regulations. L.N. 240/91 2. The fees specified in the Schedule shall be paid prior to the granting of a licence to an institution to carry on business under the Act.
Fees Shs.
In EXERCISE of the powers conferred by Section 55 of the Banking Act, the Minister for Finance make the following regulations:- THE BANKING (INCREASE OF RATE OF BANKING AND OTHER CHARGES) REGULATIONS, 2006 1. These Regulations may be cited as the Banking (Increase of Rate of Banking and other Charges) Regulations, 2006.
An application for approval of increase in the rate of banking or other charges under section 44 of the Act, shall be in the form set out in the Schedule and shall be submitted to the Minister through the Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya shall consider every application submitted under regulation 2 and shall, in particular:- (a) consider whether the proposed increase is in conformity with the Government's policy of entrenching a market oriented economy in Kenya; and (b) take into account the average underlying inflation rate prevailing over the twelve months immediately preceding the application, together with his comments thereon, to the Minister.
The Minister shall consider every application forwarded under regulation 3 in the manner set out in regulation 5.
(a) the increase in the rate of banking or other charges applied for is below the average underlying inflation rate prevailing over the preceding twelve months as determined by the Central Bank of Kenya, the Minister shall communicate his decision to the applicant within fourteen days of the date of receipt of the application; (b) the increase in the rate of banking or other charges applied for is above the average underlying inflation rate prevailing over the preceding twelve months as determined by the Central Bank of Kenya, the Minister may, if he deems it necessary, hold consultations with the applicant on the rationale for the proposed increase in the rate of banking or other charges before either granting or denying approval.
(2) In the case of an application falling under sub-regulation (1)(b) the Minister shall communicate his decision to the applicant within thirty days of the receipt of the application.
6 Every institution shall post, in a conspicuous position at every place of the institution's business in Kenya, the rates of banking and other charges levied on the products offered by the institution and shall submit a copy of the document so displayed to the Minister.
7 An institution seeking to introduce a new product shall, prior to charging, levying or imposing any rate or charge on the new product, notify the Minister in writing of the rate or charge applicable to the new product.
| Current | rate | Proposed rate | Percentage | Justification | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| or charge | or charge | increase | for increase* | ||
| Type of rate | Effective | ||||
| or charge | Date | of | |||
| current rate or charge |
SCHEDULE Form (para 2) APPLICATION FOR INCREASE IN THE RATE OF BANKING AND OTHER CHARGES Details of increase .....................................................................................
……………………………………………………………………………………………………… (signature of the chief executive officer or the chief operation officer) *Extra sheet may be attached. The application should clearly set out in detail, justification for the proposed increase.
Made on the 20th April, 2006 Hon. Amos Kimunya MINISTER FOR FINANCE L.N. NO. 97 of 2008: Repeal of Banking Exchange of Information Regulations, 2004 NB: The Banking (Credit Reference Bureau) Regulations, 2008 that came into force on 2nd February, 2009 pursuant to L.N.No.97 of 2008 were repealed by Ln/5 of 2014 (Section 56) and replaced with Banking (Credit Reference Bureau) Regulations, 2013 pursuant to LN No.5 of 2014, which are 1. Name of Institution .............................................................................................................. 2. Date of Application ................................................................................................................ 3. Proposed effective date of the proposed increase ................................................................................................................
Date …………………………………………….
available on the Bank's website.
IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by section 55 (1) of the Banking Act, the Minister for Finance makes the following Regulations:-
| Citation | 1. | These Regulations may be cited as the Banking (Deposit Protection Fund) Regulation, 2003. |
|---|---|---|
| Interpretation | 2. | In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires - "Board" means the Deposit Protection Fund Board established under section 36 of the Act; |
| Nature | of | |
| information | "Contributory institution" means a bank, a mortgage finance company or financial institution which has received a notice to contribute under section 38(2) of the Act; "Fund" means the Deposit Protection Fund established by section 37 of the Act. | |
| Convening of Board | 3. | Meetings of the Board shall be convened by the Chairman not less than |
| L.N. 24/2002 | once in every three months, or whenever the business of the Fund so |
Convening of Board
L.N. 24/2002
once in every three months, or whenever the business of the Fund so requires.
(2) The validity of any proceedings of the Board shall not be affected by any vacancy in the membership of the Board, or by any defect in the appointment of any member which is discovered subsequent to those proceedings.
(3) The decision of the Board shall be authenticated by signature of the Chairman or any other person authorized by the chairman for that purpose.
(2) The accounts shall include contributions by institutions and investments by the Fund.
(3) A statement of accounts prepared in accordance with paragraph (1) shall be audited by auditors appointed by the Board.
(4) For the purposes of these regulations, no person shall be appointed as an auditor unless he is qualified under section 161 of the Companies Act and is approved by the Central Bank.
(5) Members of the Board appointed by the Minister under Section 36(4) (c) of the Act shall hold office for a period of four years and shall be eligible for re-appointment.
(6) The Board shall publish the report prepared under section 42 (1) of the Act within three months of its submission to the Minister.
Subject to the Act, the average of a contributory institution's total deposit shall be the amount which the Board determines as representing its average deposit average liabilities over a period of twelve months preceding the levying of contributions.
The Board may waive a contribution by a contributory institution if it appears to the Board that an institution which is licensed is carrying on substantially the same business as that previously carried on by one or more institutions which are, or were contributory institutions, but nothing in these Regulations shall entitle any institution to a repayment of the contributions previously made to the Fund.
Payments out of the Fund 8. (1) Whenever a contributory institution shall become insolvent in accordance with section 39 (6) of the Act and if at that time the Keeping of accounts and records Cap 486 institution is a contributory institution whose deposits are protected, the Board shall, as soon as is practicable pay out the Fund by cash, cheque or bank transfer to a depositor who has a protected deposit with the institution an amount equal to his protected deposit.
(2) In the event of uncertainty of records, the Board may only pay such percentage of the protected deposit as it may deem appropriate in the circumstances.
(3) No account whatsoever shall be taken of any liability unless proof of the debt which gives rise to it has been given to the Board in such manner and as the Board shall determine.
(3) In determining the liability of a contributory institution to a depositor, no account shall be taken of any liability in respect of a deposit if it is no longer protected or if it is made after termination of the protection of deposits of that institution under section 38 (5) of the Act.
(4) In all cases, before termination of protection of deposit, the Board shall publish a notice in the Gazette and in one national newspaper of its intention to terminate protection of deposits in an institution.
(5) Unless the Board otherwise directs, there shall be deducted the amount of any liability of a depositor to the contributory institution in respect of which a right of set-off existed immediately before the institution became insolvent in accordance with section 39 (6) of the
| Act against any such deposit or in respect of which such a right would then have existed if the deposit in question had been payable on demand and the liability in question had fallen due. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Liability of insolvent institution to the Board | 10. | (1) Subject to the Act and these regulations, | where a contributory |
| institution is insolvent and the Board has made or is under a liability to make an insolvency payment to a depositor, the institution shall become liable to the Board, as in respect of a contractual debt incurred immediately before the institution became insolvent, for an amount equal to the Board's liability. | |||
| (2) In all cases, no payment shall be made by the insolvent institution to a depositor unless full satisfaction has been given to the Board in respect of all moneys paid by the Board to the depositor. (3) The liability of the insolvent contributory institution to a depositor shall be reduced by an amount equal to insolvency payment made or to be made by the Board to the depositor. | |||
| Liquidator's duty to | 11. | The duty of the liquidator of an insolvent contributory institution shall | |
| the Board | be to pay to the Board instead of the depositor the amount referred to under regulation (8), and if the amount paid to the Board equals the insolvency payment made to the depositor by the Board, the liquidator shall thereafter pay to the depositor instead of the Board any excess amount. | ||
| Furnishing | of | ||
| information | by | a | |
| liquidator | or | an | |
| institution. | 12. | The Board may, by notice in writing served on a contributory institution or the liquidator of an insolvent institution, require him or such institution at such place as may be specified in the notice to furnish to the Board information and such books, papers or records as the Board may require to carry out its functions under the Act. | |
| Inspection of books | 13. | Where as a result of a contributory institution having become insolvent | |
| etc | any books, papers or records have come into the possession of the official receiver, or liquidator he shall permit any person duly authorized by the Board to inspect such books, papers or records. | ||
| L.N. 24/2002 | 14. The Banking (Deposit Protection Fund) Amendment) Regulations, 2002 are hereby revoked. |
Made on the 20th January, 2003.
DAVID MWIRARIA Minister for Finance
| Citation | 1. These Regulations may be cited as the Banking (Liquidation of Institutions) Regulations:- | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice | of | ||
| appointment | and | ||
| security | 2. (1) Where the Board is appointed as a liquidator of an institution it shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, cause notice of its appointment to be published in the Gazette and at least one daily newspaper of general circulation in Kenya. (2) The Board shall not be required to give any security by reason of its appointment as liquidator and upon appointment shall be deemed to have given security for the purposes of the Companies (winding –up) Rules. | ||
| Cap.486 Sub. Leg. | 3. | Where the Board has been appointed as liquidator of an institution, it | |
| Meeting of creditors | shall not unless the court otherwise directs, be necessary for the liquidator to convene a meeting of creditors and contributories under the provisions of section 236 of the Companies Act. | ||
| Power | to | waive | 4. (1) Where the Board has been appointed as liquidator of an institution, it |
| proof of debt | may, if it deems fit, admit the claim of any depositor or class of depositors without submission of formal proof of debt and shall notify the depositor or depositors concerned accordingly. | ||
| (2) | Any depositor who is dissatisfied with the decision of the Board may apply to the Court in the same manner as a dissatisfied creditor under the provisions of the Companies (Winding-Up) Rules. |
Power of High Court to decide all claims 5. (1) The High Court shall, except as otherwise expressly provided in regulation 6, High Court have exclusive jurisdiction to entertain and decide any claim made by or against to decide all an institution which is being wound-up or any question of priorities or any claims other question whatsoever, whether, of law or fact, which may relate to or arise in the course of the winding-up of an institution.
(2)Any depositor who is dissatisfied with the decision of the Board may apply to the Court in the same manner as a dissatisfied creditor under the provisions of the Companies (Winding-Up) Rules.
Transfer of pending proceeding 6. (1) Where an institution is being wound-up, no suit or other legal proceeding, whether civil or criminal, in respect of which the High Court has jurisdiction under the Act or these Regulations and which is pending in any other court immediately before the commencement of the Act or the commencement of the winding-up of the institution, whichever is later, shall be proceeded with except in the manner provided under these Regulations.
(2) The liquidator shall, within three months from the commencement of the winding-up or the commencement of the Act, whichever is later, or such further time as the High Court may allow, submit to the High Court a report containing a list of all such pending proceedings together with particulars thereof.
(3) On receipt of a report under paragraph (2), the High Court may give the parties concerned an opportunity to show cause why the proceedings should not be transferred to the Court and it shall make such order as it deems fit transferring all or such of the pending proceedings as may be specified in the order to the Court and such proceedings shall thereafter be disposed of by the Court.
(4) If any proceedings pending in a Court are not transferred to the High Court under paragraph (3), the proceedings shall be continued in the Court in which the proceedings were pending.
(5) Nothing in this section shall apply to any proceeding pending in appeal before the Court of Appeal or the High Court.
Public examination of officer and others 7. (1) In the winding-up of an institution, the liquidator shall determine whether, in his opinion, any loss has been caused to the institution since its formation by any act or omission (whether or not a fraud has been committed by such act or omission) of a person in the promotion or formation of the institution or of any officer or auditor of the institution.
(2) If the liquidator determines that a loss has been caused by an act or omission referred to in paragraph (1), he may apply to the High Court for an order that any officer or auditor of an institution or any person who has taken part in the promotion or formation of the institution shall be publicly examined and the Court shall hold a public sitting on a date to be appointed for that purpose and direct that such person, director or auditor shall attend thereat and shall be publicly examined as to the promotion or formation or the conduct of the business of the institution or as to his conduct and dealings in so far as they relate to the affairs of the institution.
(3) The liquidator shall take part in the examination and for that purpose may employ a legal representative of his own choice.
(4) Any creditor or contributor may also take part in the examination either personally or by an advocate.
(5) The High Court may put such questions to the person examined as it thinks fit.
(6) The person examined shall be examined on oath and shall answer all such questions as the High Court may put or allow to be put to him.
(7) A person ordered to be examined under this regulation may, at his own cost, employ an advocate who shall be at liberty to put to him such questions as the High Court may deem just for the purpose of enabling him to explain or qualify any answer given by him: Provided that if he is, in the opinion of the High Court, exculpated from any charges made against him, the High Court may allow such costs in its discretion as it may deem fit.
(8) Notes of the examination shall be taken down in writing, and shall be read over to or by, and signed by, the person examined.
(9) References in this regulation to an officer or auditor of an institution shall include a former officer or auditor of that institution.
| Special | provisions |
|---|---|
| affection examination |
(2) No person shall be excused from examination by reason of the fact that any other proceedings, whether criminal or civil, are in progress or contemplated against him.
(3) The official record of the evidence taken on any such examination may thereafter be used in evidence against any person examined in any civil proceedings and shall be open to the inspection of any creditor or contributory at all reasonable times.
| Special | provisions |
|---|---|
| for | assessing |
| damages |
(2) Where an application is made to the High Court under section 323 of the Companies Act and the High Court has reason to believe that any property belongs to any promoter, officer, manager or liquidator of the institution, whether the property standings in the name of such person or any other person as an ostensible owner, then the High Court may, at any time, whether before or after making an order under paragraph (1) direct the attachment of such property so attached shall remain subject to attachment unless the ostensible owner and the provisions of the Civil Procedure Act relating to attachment of property shall, as far as may be, apply to such attachment.
10.The Board may, at any time, resign as liquidator of an institution upon giving written notice to the Official Receiver whereupon the Official Receiver shall become the liquidator of the institution unless and until another liquidator is appointed by the Court in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act.
| Citation | 1. | These Regulations may be cited as the Banking (Penalties) Regulation 1999 and shall apply to all banks and other institutions licensed under the Act to conduct business in Kenya |
|---|---|---|
| Penalties | 2. (a) Any institution or other person who fails or refuses to comply with any directions given by the Central Bank under the Act shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding one million shillings in the case of an institution, or one hundred thousand shillings in the case of a natural person. (b)The Minister may prescribe additional penalties not exceeding ten thousand shillings in each case for each day or part thereof during which such failure or refusal continues. |
Specific violations 3. (1) The following shall constitute specific violations by an institution of the directions given by the Central Bank which shall be subject to assessment of monetary penalties under these Regulations:- L.N. 164 of 1999 (a) Loans, advances or other credit facilities granted by the institution to any person in excess of 25% of the institution's core capital; (b) Outstanding unsecured advances to any of the institution's employees or their associates; (c) Outstanding advances, loans or credit facilities which are unsecured or not fully secured:- (i) to any of its officers or their associates; or (ii)to any person of whom or of which any of its officers has an interest as an agent, principal, director, manager or shareholder; or (iii) to any person of whom or of which any of its officers is a guarantor.
(d) Outstanding advance, loan or credit facility to any of its directors or other person participating in the general management of the institution which:- (i) has not been approved by the full board of directors of the institution upon being satisfied that it is viable; (ii) has not been made in the normal course of business and on terms similar to those offered to ordinary customers of the institution; and (iii) has not been reported to the Central Bank within seven days thereof as being approved under (i) above; (e) An aggregate of credit facilities to any one of the institution's shareholders, directors, officers or employees which is in excess of twenty percent of the institution's core capital; (f) The aggregate of loans, advances and other credit facilities to shareholders, directors, officers and employees is in excess of one hundred percent of the institution's core capital; (g) Failure of the institution to:- (i) exhibit its annual audited accounts, throughout each year, in a conspicuous place in every office and branch in Kenya; or (ii) publish its annual audited accounts in a national newspaper within the number of months at the end of each financial year as prescribed under the minimum disclosure requirements prescribed from time to time by the Central Bank.
(h) Failure of the institution to submit, not later than three months after the end of its financial year, to the Central Bank its annual audited accounts and a copy of the auditor's report in the prescribed form.
(i) Failure of the institution to furnish, at such time and in such manner as the Central Bank may direct, such information in accurate and complete manner as the Central Bank may require to properly discharge its functions under the Act.
(ii) Monetary penalties on non-compliance with other directions not covered herein above may be levied by the Central Bank.
(b) A notification under (a) above shall advise the institution of a reasonable time frame within which the violation shall be rectified.
Director Bank Supervision to advise on assessed penalties and manner of payment 5. Following the notification and expiration of the time frame designated in (4) above, or sooner if advised by the institution of the correction of the violation, Director of Bank Supervision of the Central Bank shall instruct the institution, in writing, as to the amount of monetary penalties assessed and the manner in which such monies shall be paid to the Central Bank.
6.(a) Where the Central Bank is not satisfied, either by evidence provided by the institution or information obtained by the Central Bank, that the violation has been rectified as directed, the daily monetary penalty prescribed in Regulation 2(b) shall continue to accrue.
(b)Once the Central Bank is fully satisfied that the violation has been rectified, the daily penalty shall cease to accrue and the institution shall be assessed the aggregate penalty.
Made on the 10th June, 1999 Y.F.O. MASAKHALIA Minister for Finance