Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Governor Dr. Kamau Thugge officially opened the 23rd East African Banking School (EABS) Conference in Diani, Kwale County, setting a firm regulatory agenda for the region’s evolving financial ecosystem.
Serving as the Chief Guest at the five-day summit running from July 13–17, 2026, Dr. Thugge addressed a gathering of over 100 regional banking executives, policymakers, and financial experts.
The conference, themed “Navigating Credit Risk in the Digital Transformation Era,” is organized jointly by the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA), the Tanzania Institute of Bankers (TIOB), and the Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services (UIBFS).
CBK Governor sets regulatory tone on digital risk.
Governor Thugge emphasized the necessity of balancing rapid technological integration with aggressive risk management frameworks to preserve macroeconomic stability.
“The full rollout of the Risk-Based Credit Pricing Model represents a critical milestone in tying variable lending rates directly to macroeconomic shifts. As regulators, our focus remains on steering the industry through a sustainable credit recovery period while maintaining strong capital buffers,” he remarked. “Navigating credit risk in this digital transformation era requires financial institutions to deploy robust data analytics, ensuring that expanding access to credit does not compromise asset quality or the overall stability of the banking ecosystem.”
KBA Chairperson Paul Russo drives industry’s operational shift
Following the Governor’s regulatory overview, KBA Chairman and KCB Group CEO Paul Russo delivered the keynote address, focusing on the operational implementation of these safety models across the East African Community (EAC). Russo, who was recently re-elected to lead the bankers’ lobby for the 2026/2027 cycle, challenged traditional banking mindsets regarding business lending.
Addressing the core strategic shift required by commercial lenders, Russo stated:
“Our responsibility extends beyond basic lending; the current macroeconomic environment demands that we look at long-term impacts, leverage technology to manage digital credit risk, and build resilient financial institutions capable of anchoring East Africa’s economic expansion.”
The ongoing executive panels, hosted alongside KBA CEO Raimond Molenje, TIOB CEO Patrick Mususa, and UIBFS CEO Goretti Masadde, are breaking down regional targets into clear structural pillars.
NPL Minimization: Heads of credit are auditing cross-border data-sharing networks to reduce non-performing loans (NPLs) across mobile lending platforms.
Cash-Flow Appraisals: Shifting frameworks toward data analytics and transactional track records to allow asset-light small businesses (SMEs) access to capital.
Tech Integration: Collaborating with credit reference bureaus like Metropol CRB to implement real-time risk checks across regional branch offices.
Regulatory Compliance: Aligning digital asset compliance and data privacy laws to clear smoother paths for financial trade corridors between Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
The 23rd EABS conference will continue its executive curriculum through Friday, JULY 2017, concluding with a unified regional framework on automated credit management.
