The National Assembly Committee on Finance and National Planning is set to conduct a vetting and approval hearing for Naphtaly Rono, the nominee for the position of Director General of the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC).
The hearing comes at a critical time as Kenya intensifies its efforts to strengthen its financial integrity and combat international financial crimes.
Late last year, the Committee invited the public to submit any affidavits or representations regarding the nominee’s suitability, with a deadline of December 24, 2025.
While the nominee’s vetting is a procedural practice, the Committeeβs focus will primarily be on the nominee’s capacity to steer FRC’s expansive mandate.
Established under the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act (POCAMLA), the FRC serves as Kenyaβs principal financial intelligence unit.
Its primary objectives include the identification of illicit funds, the detection and identification of proceeds of crime to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism, as well as information dissemination.
The Centre is also mandated to receive, analyse, and interpret financial data from reporting institutions and share actionable intelligence with law enforcement agencies.
The existence of the Centre within the countryβs financial governance system is a key step towards ensuring Kenya complies with international standards set by bodies such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to prevent the country from being blacklisted or sanctioned.
It fulfilling its regulatory oversight role, the Centre is charged with inspecting reporting entities to ensure they maintain robust anti-money laundering (AML) and combating the financing of terrorism (CFT) safeguards.
The Director General of the FRC plays a pivotal role in maintaining the stability and reputation of Kenya’s financial sector. As the Chief Executive Officer, the DG is responsible for the centre’s strategic direction and day-to-day management.
To the broader economy, the Director Generalβs leadership is essential for protecting financial integrity. By curbing money laundering, the DG helps ensure that Kenyaβs financial systems are not used to facilitate crime, so as to maintain investor confidence and support private sector growth.
The DG also oversees the tracking of financial trails related to terrorism, providing a critical layer of defence for national safety.
The DG is charged with the crucial role of cushioning the country from economic grey-listing, which can otherwise increase the cost of doing business and restrict access to international capital.
Through the detection of corrupt practices and the tracing of laundered public funds, the FRC assists in the recovery of assets, ultimately protecting taxpayersβ money and supporting fiscal stability.
The approval hearing scheduled for Monday, February 2, 2026 at 11 am, is a significant step towards reinforcing these economic safeguards as Kenya strives to position herself as a competitive and transparent financial hub in the region.
If approved by MPs, Rono will be tasked with the responsibility of addressing concerns raised about Kenyaβs financial transactions that have left the country on the grey list despite key reforms.
