Kenya’s Central Bank Staffing Up for Virtual Asset Regulation

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) is expanding its regulatory capacity by hiring several professionals specializing in virtual asset compliance. These new roles come as the country moves to formalize oversight of a rapidly growing crypto sector.

The CBK opened applications on Monday for positions including licensing specialists, product approval officers, and compliance managers within its Digital Payment Services Division. This move aligns with Kenya’s Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Act passed in October 2025, which mandates regulation of cryptocurrency activities.

Key Takeaways:

• The CBK is hiring for virtual asset roles amid ongoing development of regulatory frameworks
• Kenya joins Ghana and Rwanda in formalizing crypto oversight as activity outgrows experimental phase
• Industry stakeholders are still debating specific regulations while the CBK builds its enforcement team
• This represents a significant lock-in by regulators, prioritizing staffing before finalizing all rules

The timing of these hires is notable as draft regulations under the VASP Act closed for public comment on April 10 but have yet to be officially gazetted. This suggests the CBK anticipates needing its expanded team even before the final rules are published.

Contextual Factors:

• Kenya’s crypto activity has been driven by remittances, mobile money integration, and digital payment adoption
• The move towards formal regulation reflects growing recognition that oversight is now necessary rather than optional
• This pattern of laws preceding detailed regulations is common across African nations seeking to regulate emerging technologies