MOMBASA, Kenya — The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has conducted a high-level anti-money laundering (AML) sensitisation seminar for senior officers in Mombasa and Nakuru as Kenya intensifies efforts to address weaknesses that led to its placement on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.
The seminar, held this week, targeted senior investigators and focused on strengthening Kenya’s response to money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing.
The training was delivered in four cohorts. Cohorts One and Two met from Monday, February 2 to Tuesday, February 3, 2026, while Cohorts Three and Four convened from Thursday, February 5 to Friday, February 6, 2026.
According to the DCI, the sessions featured candid discussions on gaps identified in investigations and prosecutions related to financial crimes. These shortcomings were among the factors cited by FATF in placing Kenya under increased monitoring.
Participants were taken through emerging money laundering and terrorism financing typologies, with particular focus on risks linked to unclear beneficial ownership structures, shell companies, virtual assets, and cryptocurrencies.
The seminar also examined sector-specific vulnerabilities, including real estate transactions, casinos, and Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (SACCOs), which have previously been flagged by regulators as high-risk areas for illicit financial flows.
Addressing the officers, Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin said Kenya’s grey listing had far-reaching economic and reputational consequences, including reduced investor confidence.
“As the country’s main investigative agency, the DCI must deliver clear results through strong, intelligence-led investigations,” Amin said. “Our goal is straightforward: trace illegal financial flows, disrupt criminal networks, and deny offenders access to the proceeds of crime.”
The seminar also highlighted recent legislative reforms, notably the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism Financing Act, 2025. The law strengthens regulatory oversight, enhances customer due diligence requirements, mandates reporting of suspicious transactions, increases penalties for non-compliance, and facilitates domestic and cross-border information sharing.
The DCI further outlined internal institutional reforms aimed at improving financial crime investigations. These include the development of clear Standard Operating Procedures, mandatory prioritisation of financial investigations in all profit-generating offences, and the restructuring of the Financial Investigations Unit (FIU) and the Anti-Terrorism Policing Unit (ATPU).
Other measures include improved record management systems, specialised training programmes, and enhanced collaboration with national, regional, and international partners.
Notably, the Eastern and Southern African Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) has acknowledged Kenya’s progress, reporting that 29 out of 40 previous recommendations have been addressed. The DCI said this marks a significant step toward improving financial integrity and achieving full FATF compliance.
Senior officers attending the seminar were urged to provide leadership within their units, cascade the knowledge gained to investigators on the ground, and lead effective financial investigations that support Kenya’s removal from the FATF grey list.
