Cablegate: Collaboration On Anti-Money Laundering Training in Kenya

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN PTER KCRM ECON KTFN KE
SUBJECT: COLLABORATION ON ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING TRAINING IN KENYA

1. This is an action request. Please see para 5.

2. Prof. Kinandu Muragu, Executive Director at the Central Bank of
Kenya's School of Monetary Studies (KSMS), asked if the USG can
collaborate in introducing anti-money laundering (AML) courses at
the School. Noting that the regulatory response has not kept pace
with the increasing challenge of money laundering in East Africa,
Prof. Muragu said there is a dichotomy between the level of
knowledge needed for AML compliance and traditional monitoring
systems. Muragu, who is a finance professor, would like KSMS to
offer courses that provide in-depth anti-money laundering knowledge
to economic and financial managers within the region. As this is a
new area, he believes: "We need better equipped practitioners who
understand and can detect and prevent money laundering." Muragu
will also approach the World Bank and IMF for assistance to design
the courses.

3. The KSMS mission is to offer market driven training programs
aimed at enhancing skills for sound economic and financial sector
stability in Kenya and in the region. It offers short term
management and skills development courses and professional programs
in banking and information technology. KSMS, in collaboration with
Moi University, also developed a market driven Master of Banking and
Finance degree program which attracts students from financial sector
and policy institutions all over Eastern and Southern Anglophone
Africa.

4. Three CBK bank oversight officials attended an AML training class
at the Chicago Federal Reserve in August 2007 and found it valuable,
but more training is needed. The AML bill is in Parliament (again).
If it passes, Kenya will need to train financial sector personnel
in implementation and compliance. Even if the bill does not pass,
KSMS is a respected institution with good facilities, and AML
training courses there would "mainstream" the issue, both for Kenya
and the entire East Africa region.

5. Action request: Post requests Washington agencies confer and
advise if it would be possible to provide an AML course curriculum
and materials for KSMS to use and/or to send some experts to Kenya
to train instructors from KSMS and perhaps other East African
education or training institutions on how to use them. Post also
requests Treasury/OTA or State/INL check with the World Bank Program
on Financial Market Integrity/Banking and Risk Management Unit,
which expressed interest in helping Kenya implement the AML bill in
2006, and which may offer some program in this area.

SLUTZ

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