Why Local Expertise is the Key to Compliance Inclusion
Kenya’s Bold Move to Exit the Grey List: Why Local Expertise is the Key to Compliance Inclusion
The landscape of financial integrity in Kenya is shifting. Following the vetting of Naftaly Rono for the position of Director General of the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC), a clear roadmap has emerged to rescue Kenya from the FATF "grey list."
At Anqa, we don’t just watch these developments from the sidelines—we live them. With our Shareholders, CTO Joel Barasa and COO Michael Osimbo based in Nairobi, our engineering and operational heart beats in the very city where these reforms are taking shape.
A 100-Day Sprint to Global Standards
According to a recent report by Kelvin Mutua (3 February 2026), Naftaly Rono has pledged an ambitious 100-day strategy to address at least six of the eleven remaining FATF action points. His focus is laser-targeted on "Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions" (DNFBPs)—the lawyers, real estate dealers, and casinos that have historically been the "weakest links" in the AML/CFT chain.
Rono’s strategy includes:
Enhanced Oversight: Creating a multi-agency technical committee to bridge the gap between regulators and the private sector.
Tech-Forward Intelligence: Boosting the FRC’s capacity for advanced data analysis to turn suspicious transaction reports into actionable legal results.
Virtual Asset Regulation: Establishing clear frameworks for crypto and virtual assets—a high-risk sector frequently flagged by global watchdogs.
Why "Built in Nairobi" Matters for Compliance
Rono rightly noted that "exiting the grey list is not just about compliance on paper; it’s about demonstrating effectiveness." This is exactly why Anqa exists.
While global giants build software for "glass towers" in London or New York, Anqa is built by people who understand the Kenyan reality. As our COO puts it:
"I've seen how the right tools can transform a small SACCO into a community lifeline. That's the power we're scaling."
Our Nairobi-based leadership ensures that our technology accounts for the unique challenges Rono is working to solve:
Compliance Inclusion: Small money transfer shops and DNFBPs often can't afford "Western-priced" software. We’ve priced Anqa starting at $35/month to ensure no Kenyan business is left behind in this national cleanup.
Practical Tech: Our CTO Joel Barasa has architected cloud-native platforms that align with ISO 20022 and PCI DSS standards, specifically designed to work in environments where mobile phones are the primary bank, but internet connectivity can be intermittent.
Real-Time Risk Management: Rono’s call for "advanced data analysis" is reflected in our AI-driven anomaly detection, which reduces false positives and helps compliance officers focus on real threats.
The Path Forward: From Grey to Gold
The "Wash Wash" culture and money laundering risks have placed a heavy burden on Kenya’s economy, raising transaction costs and reputational risks for every local entrepreneur.
We applaud the FRC’s commitment to a "risk-based supervision" model. By making enterprise-level screening and reporting tools accessible to the majority—not just the elite few—Anqa is helping Kenya prove its effectiveness to the world.
As Kenya moves to transform its regulatory reputation, Anqa is here to provide the digital infrastructure. Because when compliance becomes accessible, financial inclusion becomes a reality.
Information regarding Naftaly Rono’s vetting is attributed to reporting by Kelvin Mutua, February 2026.
