Kenya Reopens Doors to New Banks After 10-Year Freeze, Raising Capital Bar for Entrants

• CBK ends moratorium imposed after lender collapses, says sector now stable
• New banks must meet phased capital requirement of Ksh10bn by 2029

Nairobi, Kenya – The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has officially lifted its decade-long ban on licensing new commercial banks, signalling a major policy shift aimed at re-energising the country’s banking sector and attracting new domestic and international players.