Public consultation on Kenya's VASP Regulations closes; final rules expected Q2

Public participation on the Draft Virtual Asset Service Providers Regulations 2026 closed on 10 April 2026, keeping Kenya on track to operationalise VASP licensing in 2026. The regulations, drafted with the CBK and CMA through a multi-agency task force, cover licensing, capital, solvency and insurance requirements under the VASP Act 2025. Final regulations were expected in Q2 2026 pending Cabinet approval as at our coverage date. The administrative milestone hides the commercial one. Once final rules publish, the licensing clock and the Act's section 47 deadline of 4 November 2026 converge, and existing VASPs will be applying for licences and proving compliance more or less simultaneously. Operators that waited for final text before starting compliance work will discover the transition window was consumed by the process itself.