The Kenyan government, through the National Treasury, has proposed a new law that would require all accountants in the country to get a license every year. This plan is part of the Accountants (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
If this law is passed, every accountant will need to register and pay for a license every year to continue working.
Anyone who works as an accountant without this license could be fined up to KSh 2 million.
They could also face daily fines until they get the license. In serious cases, they might even go to jail.
The government says the goal of this new law is to make sure accountants are qualified and working legally.
They also believe it will help stop corruption and make public money safer.
The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) will be in charge of giving the licenses. ICPAK already checks and controls the work of accountants in Kenya.
This new law will give them more power to make sure all accountants are following the rules.
Some people support the idea. They say it will make sure that only trained and qualified people work as accountants.
But others are worried. Some small business owners and individual accountants say that getting a license every year will be expensive.
They fear that the cost might be too high, especially for small firms or young professionals just starting out.
The bill is still being looked at and is not yet a law. If it passes, accountants across Kenya will need to follow the new rules and plan for the yearly license.
By Kenyans