The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has
cancelled the operating licence of Bank Al-Habib Ltd (BAHL) following the
lender’s decision to exit the Kenyan market.
In a statement issued on June 30,
2025, CBK confirmed that the cancellation was effective from May 15, 2025.
The move was prompted by BAHL’s
decision to close its Nairobi-based representative office as part of efforts to
streamline its foreign operations.
“The Central Bank of Kenya announces
the cancellation of the authority granted to Bank Al-Habib Ltd (BAHL) of
Pakistan to operate BAHL Representative Office in Kenya, pursuant to Section 43
of the Banking Act,” CBK said.
BAHL had operated a representative
office in Kenya since April 9, 2018, after receiving approval from the
regulator.
The office served as a marketing and
liaison point for the parent bank in Pakistan and its international affiliates.
It did not carry out direct banking activities such as accepting deposits or
issuing loans.
CBK clarified that the exit was a
strategic decision by BAHL and not the result of any regulatory or compliance
violations.
The bank, which is headquartered in
Karachi, Pakistan, offers a range of services including retail and corporate
banking, and international trade finance.
Its Kenyan outpost was its only representative
office in East Africa.
CBK assured the public that the exit had been handled in line with legal and regulatory requirements and would not affect the broader financial sector.
