NAIROBI, Kenya, June 30 – The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has officially withdrawn the licence granted to Pakistan-based Bank Al-Habib Limited (BAHL), marking the bank’s exit from the Kenyan market after a seven-year presence.
In a press statement issued on Monday, CBK confirmed the cancellation of the authority that had allowed BAHL to operate a representative office in Kenya since April 2018.
The decision which took effect from May 15, 2025, is said to be in line with the bank’s global strategy to streamline its foreign operations.
“Pursuant to Section 43 of the Banking Act. BAHL’s exit from Kenya, effective May 15, 2025, follows a strategic decision by BAHL to rationalize its foreign operations,” CBK revealed.
BAHL, a full-service commercial bank headquartered in Karachi, Pakistan, provides a range of services including retail banking, corporate banking, and international trade finance.
Its Kenyan representative office functioned primarily as a marketing and liaison hub, facilitating business connections between East Africa and the bank’s headquarters and international branches.
BAHL’s exit adds to a series of foreign financial institutions that have either scaled back or exited African markets in recent years due to operational challenges including low performances.
