The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) has rolled out a new online platform for submitting financial reports, affecting all licensed market intermediaries in Kenya.

This includes stockbrokers, forex trading platforms, investment banks, fund managers, and other regulated entities.

The CMA issued Circular No. 01/2026 on January 9, 2026, signed by Chief Executive Officer FCPA Wyckliffe Shamiah. The circular announced the replacement of the old online submission portal with a modern reporting system.

“The Capital Markets (Licensing Requirements) (General) Regulations, 2002, the Guidelines on Financial Resource Requirements for Market Intermediaries and the Capital Markets (Online Foreign Exchange Trading) Regulations 2017 require licensed market intermediaries to prepare and submit Risk Based Capital Adequacy (RBCA) returns and a full set of financial statements periodically and within the prescribed timelines,” the circular reads.

Market intermediaries must now submit all required filings through the new portal.

Kenya’s capital markets regulations require these submissions to maintain financial stability and transparency. Relevant rules include the Capital Markets (Licensing Requirements) (General) Regulations, 2002, the Guidelines on Financial Resource Requirements for Market Intermediaries, and the Capital Markets (Online Foreign Exchange Trading) Regulations 2017.

Under these rules, licensed firms prepare and submit Risk Based Capital Adequacy (RBCA) returns along with full financial statements at set intervals.

Intermediaries submit monthly RBCA returns with management accounts within 15 days after the end of each calendar month. For the annual filing, firms send RBCA returns together with audited financial statements within three months of the end of the financial year.

Streamlining compliance and oversight

The CMA emphasises that all submissions must now go through the new platform. The system streamlines reporting, improves efficiency for both regulators and firms, and ensures timely and accurate data. This helps the CMA monitor capital adequacy and protects investors by keeping financial reporting consistent and reliable.

Circular No. 01/2026 instructs intermediaries to start using the new portal immediately. The old system will no longer be accepted for these filings. Firms are advised to transition without delay to avoid disruptions. The CMA has provided support through its financial analysis team to assist firms during the changeover.

The new online system forms part of CMA’s broader strategy to modernise Kenya’s capital markets. A stronger digital framework reduces errors, improves oversight, and aligns local practices with international standards for financial regulation. The platform also offers intermediaries a secure and user-friendly tool for managing sensitive financial data.

The move comes as Kenya’s capital markets continue to grow, with more licensed intermediaries entering stocks, forex, and other investment areas. Efficient reporting becomes essential to maintain orderly, fair, and transparent markets. The CMA continues to promote investor confidence while ensuring firms comply with regulatory standards.

Market participants are urged to review internal reporting processes now to meet the new requirements. Early adoption will prevent compliance issues with upcoming monthly or annual deadlines. The CMA expects full cooperation from intermediaries to maintain strong, transparent, and well-regulated capital markets in Kenya.

The CMA’s rollout of the new online financial reporting system aligns with ongoing efforts by Kenya’s financial regulators to strengthen compliance with international standards.

In December 2025, at the FiRe Award conference in Nairobi, top regulators including the CMA, ICPAK, the Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (PSASB), the Nairobi Securities Exchange, and the Retirement Benefits Authority stressed the need for strict adherence to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).