Financial Regulation and Development in Kenya

Abstract

Kenya is rapidly growing in terms of financial inclusion. Legislation and policy are becoming an important tool in realizing equity and sustainability while at the same time dealing with vices such as money laundering. With access to financial services now recognized as a means towards the achievement of social and economic development, how does legislation and policy ensure a balance in meeting the goals of development while preventing abuse of the system? In this paper, access connotes both the physical and legal structures within Kenya. The relationship between development, gender, the role of regulatory institutions such as the Central Bank of Kenya and the legal framework shall be analysed to access their roles, the policies implemented and their successes in achieving sustainable development. This research posits that despite the breadth in financial institutions, robust legislation and policy, the development in financial institutions over the decades, the financial sector is still ill equipped to deal with the age old challenges such as gender, financial inclusion and marginalization and the ever present challenge of money laundering. There is a need for an innovative approach that aims at resolving the unique challenges communities face in achieving inclusion into the financial sector.