CBK starts hiring virtual asset supervisors before the VASP rules are final

The Central Bank of Kenya advertised senior and managerial roles for virtual asset licensing and compliance functions in late April 2026, with applications closing 18 May, before the VASP Regulations had been finalised.

The hiring confirms the division of labour under Kenya's dual-regulator model: the CBK covers payment-side VASPs, stablecoin issuers and custodial services, while the CMA supervises exchanges, brokers and tokenisation platforms. It also indicates timing. A central bank recruiting supervisors in April is positioning to supervise within months, pointing to licensing applications opening in Q3 2026, against the VASP Act's 4 November 2026 compliance deadline for existing operators.

Exchanges and custody platforms with Kenya operations face licensing preparation on this timeline, ahead of the final regulations being published.