CBK Fines Standard Chartered Bank, Equity, KCB, Co-operative Bank and Diamond Trust Bank Kenya Sh392M For Laundering NYS Loot

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has, with other investigative agencies, been investigating banks that were used by persons suspected of transacting illegally with the National Youth Service (NYS). This followed the serious concerns that came to light in May 2018, related to the channelling of NYS funds.

CBK has announced  the conclusion of the first phase of the investigation of the banks that were used by these persons in transacting the NYS funds. The investigations prioritised banks that handled the largest flows, namely; Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Ltd, Equity Bank Kenya Ltd, KCB Bank Kenya Ltd, Co-operative Bank of Kenya Ltd, and Diamond Trust Bank Kenya Ltd.

The main objective of the investigations was to examine the operations of the NYS-related bank accounts and transactions, and in each instance assess the bank’s compliance with the requirements of Kenya’s Anti-Money Laundering/Combating Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) laws and regulations. Violations were identified, principally related to the following:
 failure to report large cash transactions,
 failure to undertake adequate customer due diligence,
 lack of supporting documentation for large transactions, and
 lapses in the reporting of Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) to the Financial
Reporting Centre (FRC).

CBK assessed monetary penalties for each of the five banks in accordance with the extent of the violations that were identified and pursuant to CBK’s powers under the Banking Act and the Central Bank of Kenya Act. These penalties are detailed below.

1. Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Ltd who received Sh1.6B fined Sh 77.5M.
2. Equity Bank Kenya Ltd. Handled Sh886M, fines Sh89.5M
3. KCB Bank Kenya Ltd. Handled Sh639M and fined Sh149.5M
4. Co-operative Bank Kenya Ltd. Handled Sh263M and fined Sh20M
5. Diamond Trust Bank Kenya Ltd. handled Sh162M and fined Sh56M.

The second phase of the investigations will involve use of these findings by other investigators, inter alia, assessment of criminal culpability by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP). CBK has shared the findings with the relevant investigative agencies for their appropriate action. Further, an additional set of banks will also be identified and investigated.