Report: Kenyan Parliament Committee Approves Bill Proposing to Widen Definition of Securities to Include Crypto

A Kenyan parliamentary committee has reportedly approved a bill that proposes to widen the definition of securities to include cryptocurrencies. The bill proposes a tax on crypto exchanges and digital wallets as well as a capital gains tax on users who realize a capital gain from the sale of their crypto assets.

Bill Just Two Readings Away From Presidential Assent

A Kenyan parliamentary committee recently voted to approve the publication of a bill that proposes to include cryptocurrencies in the definition of securities, according to a report. The bill, sponsored by Abraham Kirwa, a member of parliament (MP) for Mosop, is now set to go to the Kenyan National Assembly for a second reading. Legislators are expected to debate and make further amendments at the third reading stage.

Once the bill, known as the Capital Markets (Amendment) Bill, 2023, is approved, it will be sent to the Kenyan president for his assent. Kimani Kuria, whose committee approved the bill, said regulating the crypto space is especially crucial in a country that boasts millions of users.

“This is a very critical law that will guard our country against proceeds of crime and terrorism financing. Cryptocurrencies are already being traded by millions of Kenyans yet we have no law to govern it. We approve this Bill for publication,” Kuria, an MP for Molo, reportedly said.

Capital Gains Tax on Crypto

As explained in the report, the Kenyan Capital Markets (Amendment) Bill, 2023 seeks to introduce taxes on crypto exchanges and digital wallets. The bill also proposes a capital gains tax on users who realize a capital gain from the sale of their crypto assets.

The sponsor of the bill, Abraham Kirwa, a member of parliament (MP) for Mosop, insisted that this bill will help ensure that Kenyans are shielded from risks commonly associated with cryptocurrencies. Kirwa also accused the Central Bank of Kenya of dragging its feet and not doing enough to ensure crypto users are protected.

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has seemingly adopted a lukewarm approach towards cryptocurrencies even as their popularity grows. Also, the former governor of the CBK Patrick Njoroge repeatedly spoke out against crypto and bitcoin during his tenure. However, despite this, many Kenyans have embraced crypto assets, and the country is now widely seen as one of Africa’s biggest crypto markets.

Meanwhile, among some of the bill’s key proposals is the requirement that would compel any person possessing cryptocurrencies to furnish Kenya’s Capital Markets Authority with details such as the amount of proceeds from the transaction, any costs related to the transaction, and the amount of any gain or loss on the transaction.

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