Nairobi, Kenya, 30th September 2026… The banking industry today launched the Kenya Bankers Association Institute (KBA Institute), a new platform established to strengthen professional development and capacity building across the banking and financial services sector.
The launch, presided over by Central Bank of Kenya Governor Dr. Kamau Thugge, coincided with the signing of a collaboration agreement between KBAI and the Central Bank of Kenya Institute of Monetary Studies (CBK-IMS) to support joint training, professional certification, knowledge-sharing and research.
The partnership brings together KBA Institute’s industry expertise and CBK-IMS’s regulatory and monetary policy expertise, providing a framework for the two institutions to develop and deliver training programmes that respond to the changing skills needs of banking professionals and the wider financial sector.
Under the agreement, KBAI and CBK-IMS will jointly develop and deliver short-term, modular, industry-focused training programmes covering areas such as credit risk management, risk and compliance management, treasury management, and leadership.
The programmes will also address emerging areas including artificial intelligence and machine learning in financial services, cybersecurity and digital resilience, virtual assets and financial innovation, data protection and digital governance, climate risk and sustainable finance, and financial inclusion.
The collaboration will also support the development and implementation of certification for banking professionals in Kenya. CBK-IMS will provide training and capacity-building programmes and bring regulatory expertise, while KBAI will lead curriculum development, examinations, participant registration, certification and professional membership.
The two institutions will further work to develop and implement an East African Community Banking Certification Programme, with a joint technical working group established to oversee the initiative.
The KBA Institute is the academic arm of the banking industry umbrella body, the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA), established to support the development of competent, ethical and future-ready professionals in the banking and financial services sector.
The Institute provides industry-relevant and experiential learning for professionals across the banking and finance ecosystem. Its work includes professional training, certification and examinations, continuing professional development, member development, and advocacy and research.
The Institute also provides a platform for banking professionals to access conferences, workshops, professional forums, and other learning opportunities aimed at strengthening skills and keeping professionals up to date with developments in banking and finance.
The launch comes at a time when the banking sector is experiencing significant changes driven by technology, evolving customer needs, new risks and changing regulatory requirements. KBAI will provide a platform through which the industry can continuously build the skills and professional capabilities needed to respond to these changes.
The two institutions will also draw on their respective subject-matter experts and facilitators in delivering agreed programmes. KBAI may also utilise CBK-IMS facilities for agreed programmes, subject to availability and applicable requirements.
Christine Onyango
Director, Communication and Public Affairs
Kenya Bankers Association
Email: conyango@kba.co.ke
About Kenya Bankers Association
The Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) is the umbrella body for all commercial banks in Kenya and is regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). Established on 16th July 1962, KBA represents 46 member institutions with combined assets exceeding KES 7.7 trillion. Its core mandate is to promote a stable, competitive, and inclusive banking industry by influencing legislation, regulation, and policy to enhance access to affordable credit for individuals, households, and businesses. KBA also drives financial sector development through strategic initiatives, including the launch of Pesalink, the industry’s first peer-to-peer digital payments platform. In partnership with the CBK and other stakeholders, KBA has spearheaded projects such as the modernization of the National Payments System, implementation of the Real Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS), and the Kenya Credit Information Sharing Initiative. Guided by its brand statement, “One Industry. Transforming Kenya,” KBA continues to strengthen the banking sector, foster innovation, drive financial inclusion, and support national economic growth. Learn more: www.kba.co.ke
