Kenya Bankers Association - Sacco Review | The Leading Newspaper for Co-operative Movement in Kenya

KBAI launched to boost banking skills and certification

Sacco ReviewOctober 1, 202604 mins

Banking industry launches a new institute to strengthen professional skills New partnership brings together banking and monetary policy expertise Training will cover emerging areas shaping the future of financial services The banking industry has launched the Kenya Bankers Association Institute (KBAI) to strengthen skills and professional development in the sector. Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)…

Banks urged to prioritise impact over loan volume in MSME lending

Sacco ReviewSeptember 26, 202604 mins

Banks are urged to measure MSME lending by its impact on jobs, businesses and livelihoods Fresh MSME lending reaches Ksh246 billion as banks target Ksh500 billion by year-end Lenders call for stronger data, smarter guarantees and more green financing for agriculture Commercial banks have been challenged to shift focus from the size of the loans…

Banks step up lending to MSMEs as borrowing costs ease

Sacco ReviewAugust 21, 202604 mins

Banks have increased lending to MSMEs as falling interest rates make credit more affordable. The latest figures reveal which lenders are leading the race to finance small businesses. Lower borrowing costs are encouraging stronger demand for credit across key sectors of the economy. Kenyan businesses are gaining easier access to bank financing, with lenders advancing…

High Court suspends Treasury approval on loan rate hikes

Sacco ReviewAugust 16, 2026012 mins

High Court suspends Treasury approval requirement for banks seeking to raise loan interest rates. Order follows a legal challenge by the Kenya Bankers Association over Section 44 of the Banking Act. Borrowers are not automatically facing higher rates, but customers with variable rate loans should monitor lender communications. Thousands of Kenyan borrowers face fresh uncertainty…

Why Saccos are up against the provisions of the Finance Act, 2026

Sacco ReviewJuly 16, 2026010 mins

Finance Act 2026 introduces stricter tax compliance, faster reporting deadlines, and expanded KRA enforcement powers affecting Saccos. Saccos warn the changes could strain liquidity, increase compliance costs, and disrupt lending and member access to savings. KUSCCO is pushing for tax law amendments to protect co operative members and harmonise taxation with the Co operative Societies…

Finance Act 2026 exempts SACCOs, banks from VAT on repossessed collateral sales

Sacco ReviewJune 27, 202604 mins

Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs), banks, and other financial institutions will no longer pay Value Added Tax (VAT) on the sale or disposal of repossessed collateral, following amendments introduced in the Finance Act 2026, which was signed into law by President William Ruto on June 23, 2026. This amendment marks a significant shift in…

Bankers Association calls for PAYE cut as workers face growing tax pressure

Sacco ReviewMay 27, 202603 mins

The Kenya Bankers Association has raised concerns over the rising tax burden on Kenyan workers, arguing that salaried employees are currently paying higher income tax rates than companies. In a statement shared online on Monday, May 25, 2026, the association noted that Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax stands at up to 35 per cent,…

Bankers Association warns Finance Bill 2026 taxes could undermine digital payments

Sacco ReviewMay 22, 202604 mins

Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) has cautioned against new tax measures proposed in the Finance Bill 2026, warning that levies on card transactions and digital payment services could sharply raise the cost of financial services and drive more Kenyans away from formal cashless systems. Appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning,…

KBA urges central bank to maintain benchmark rate at 8.75% amid rising global risks

Sacco ReviewApril 8, 202604 mins

The Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) Centre for Research on Financial Markets and Policy has called on the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) to maintain the current benchmark policy rate at 8.75%. This recommendation comes in light of rising global risks, including escalating geopolitical tensions and the increasing pressure on inflation and the exchange rate. In…

Kenya Bankers Association rejects draft law to regulate banking professionals

Sacco ReviewSeptember 19, 2024September 19, 202403 mins

The Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) has objected to proposed legislations that seek to regulate banking professionals. Appearing before the National Assembly Public Petition Committee chaired by Nimrod Mbai, the Association’s acting CEO Raymond Molenje stated that the proposed legislations will only hinder economic growth and limit employment opportunities in the banking sector. “The banking sector…