Major General Nkoimo warns Kenyans of global scams exploiting banks

Major General David Nkoimo of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has cautioned Kenyans against sophisticated global scams exploiting weak financial systems, warning that such criminal networks are now using banks and informal money transfers to fund terrorism.

Speaking during the launch of counter-terrorism training held in Nairobi on Monday, August 4, 2025, Nkoimo said that the evolving nature of financial crimes posed a significant threat to national and regional security.

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“The same informal banking systems that help our people send money home are being misused by global actors to move illicit funds,” he said, noting that terrorist cells are now embedding themselves within legal financial frameworks to avoid detection.

Terrorism funding exposed

Nkoimo disclosed that terror-linked networks are increasingly targeting Kenyan youth for recruitment and financial transactions, adding that the youth are often unaware of their role in facilitating money laundering. “Some of these young people are drawn in through online jobs, crypto platforms, or fake charities,” he said.

His remarks came during the launch of a joint training session between Kenya, the United States, and the United Nations, which brought together 50 law enforcement officers from across Africa to explore new threats in terrorism financing, cybercrime, and regional smuggling.

Laws to be tightened

The government is now moving to review its anti-money laundering (AML) regulations to plug existing legal gaps. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), alongside the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC), has been tasked with expanding surveillance on mobile money, Saccos, and hawala-type systems.

Nkoimo urged all Kenyans to remain vigilant. “It’s no longer about shady transactions in far-off countries. These scams are right here, targeting our systems, our people, our economy.”

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which co-hosted the training, lauded Kenya for taking a leadership role in exposing how terrorism financing is shifting toward local financial channels.

Nkoimo added that countering terrorism financing is a collective commitment that can only be achieved through integrated institutional coordination and effective international cooperation.

He further stressed that the training course organised by The Islamic Military Counter- terrorism Coalition ( IMCTC ) strategic investment in building skills, strengthening networks, and empowering institutions against illicit financial flows that fuel terrorist groups.

The course comes as part of a series of training programs conducted by IMCTC in member states to support their efforts to counter terrorism threats and cross-border crime, in line with international best practices and standards, and to enhance the integration of roles between different sectors to address those challenges.