The Finance Act, 2018 assented to on 21^st September, 2018, amended the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Act, 1966 to regulate Mortgage Finance Business (the business). The amendments include having new definitions and introduction of new powers to the CBKThese amendments came into effect on 1^st October , 2018.

New Definitions

• A Mortgage Refinance Business is defined as the business of providing long term financing to primary mortgage lenders for housing finance and any other activity that the bank may prescribe from time to time;
• Mortgage Refinance Company means a non deposit taking company established under the Companies Act of 2015 and licenced by the CBK to conduct mortgage refinance business;
• Specified Mortgage Refinance Company means a licensed mortgage refinance company licensed under the CBK Act.

Increased CBK powers

With the introduction of new sections, CBK will now have power to license and supervise the business. This includes:

• Determining capital adequacy requirements;
• prescribe minimum liquidity requirements and permissible investments for the business;
• Supervise the business by conducting both on and off-site supervision;
• Assess professional capacities of persons managing the business;
• Approving the board management of the business;
• Approving the appointment of external auditors;
• Collecting regular data from the business;
• Approving the annual audited accounts of the business before publication and presentation at the AGM;
• Revoke or suspend a license;
• Receiving reports from the Mortgage Refinance Business.