Member of Parliament for Eldas Dr Adan Keynan, has called on the government to urgently expand banking and financial services across Northern Kenya, citing the exclusion of pastoralist communities from the country’s formal financial systems.
Speaking during a plenary session of the National Assembly, Dr. Keynan pressed the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning to clarify the government’s strategy for addressing the region’s longstanding shortage of financial institutions.
“There has been a shortage of adequate banking and financial institutions in Northern Kenya,” said Dr. Keynan.
“This shortage has negatively affected the residents, who are predominantly dependent on pastoralism, trade, and informal micro-enterprises.”
The legislator emphasized that meaningful economic development in the region cannot take place without targeted, culturally responsive financial inclusion.
He noted that most residents of Northern Kenya live outside the reach of physical banking infrastructure and lack access to affordable credit, especially women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
“Financial institutions serve as engines of economic development. Expanding banking infrastructure—both physical and digital is essential to transition households from subsistence to stability,” Dr. Keynan said.
He challenged the government to articulate concrete measures being taken to ensure financial services are adapted to the unique needs of pastoralist communities, including those living nomadic lifestyles and facing persistent insecurity and infrastructural challenges.
“What are the plans the government is putting in place to ensure that financial institutions model their services to nomadic lifestyles?” he asked.
“How are these plans addressing the insecurity and infrastructural gaps that hinder service delivery in pastoralist areas?”
Dr. Keynan further called for the creation of a robust framework to incentivise commercial banks and fintech providers to serve marginalised and remote communities, adding that the public and private sectors must collaborate to close the financial gap.
“We must ensure that the financial divide is bridged by partnering with government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and the private sector,” he said.
He also requested a report outlining strategies to expand both digital and physical financial infrastructure in the region and asked about the implementation of financial literacy programmes targeting vulnerable groups.
The Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning is expected to issue a formal response within two weeks.