REGULATION | The Central Bank of Kenya Advertises VASP Licensing and Oversight Positions Ahead of Crypto Regulations

The Central Bank of Kenya is hiring for senior and mid-level roles focused on licensing and compliance of virtual asset firms as the country prepares to implement its first comprehensive crypto regulations.

The regulator has advertised four positions within its Digital Payment Services Division, including a manager for virtual asset service provider (VASP) licensing, deputy managers for licensing and oversight, and a senior business analyst. The roles close on May 18, according to listings on the bank’s careers portal.

The hiring marks the first time the central bank has created roles dedicated specifically to supervising VASPs, signalling efforts to build internal capacity ahead of a formal regulatory rollout.

The manager-level roles will lead

• licensing efforts,
• reviewing applications,
• recommending approvals or rejections, and
• helping develop operating procedures for the new regime.

Deputy managers and analysts will handle

• application reviews,
• product approvals and
• compliance oversight, including risk-based supervision and anti-money laundering checks.

The recruitment drive follows the passage of Kenya’s Virtual Asset Service Providers Act in October 2025, which created a legal framework for crypto-related activities. However, detailed regulations needed to operationalise the law are still pending after a public consultation process led by the National Treasury earlier this year.

Under the proposed framework, the central bank will oversee virtual assets used for payments, working alongside agencies such as the Capital Markets Authority and the Financial Reporting Centre in a multi-agency coordination structure.

The new roles require experience in banking, payments or financial services, with emphasis on risk management, compliance and familiarity with emerging digital asset technologies, reflecting the technical demands of supervising the sector.

Kenya joins a growing number of African countries moving to regulate virtual assets, even as gaps between legislation and implementation persist across the region.

Stay tuned to BitKE for crypto regulatory updates from across Africa.

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