Kenya: Global Anti-Money Laundering Head Arrives for Banking Conference
By Staff Writer
NAIROBI---The Anti Money Laundering Network will use the sixth annual AITEC Banking & Mobile Money COMESA conference in Nairobi to offer continuing professional bankers’ education (CPE) on new strategies to counter money launderers.
This is happening as the need for counter money laundering skills in the region grows, with international security agencies fearing that the ongoing war in Somalia and the mushrooming of terror group sympathizers in the region have contributed to a dramatic increase in money laundering.
“We will hold an intense seminar for senior bankers on new counter money laundering tactics on 5-6 March in Nairobi preceding the annual AITEC banking conference,” said a communication signed by Nigel Morris-Cotterill, Head, The Anti Money Laundering Network
The seminar will update regional bankers and other financial services professionals including those in insurance and securities houses on new counter-money laundering detection concepts and impart skills to help deterrence, prevention and apprehension of money launderers.
“We understand the integral role that banks and other financial institutions including microfinance institutions play in the movement of money and have asked the Anti Money Laundering Network to present the seminar ahead of the main conference,” said Sean Moroney, Chairman of AITEC Africa, which organizes a series of popular continent-wide banking conferences.
The risk of crime posed by money laundering has been rising following political and military developments in the Horn of Africa.
The seminar will complement similar efforts by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime which has been involved in activities aimed at strengthening the capacities of these professionals in the region in combating money laundering and terrorism financing.
Mr Morris-Cotterill says the region had already made positive strides with the establishment of Councils for Interstate Security by such integration bodies like the East African Community and what needed to be done was “train and empower” bankers to aid in the fight.
The AITEC COMESA Banking Conference is slated for 7-8 March 2012 in Nairobi.