Author : Muzammal Rahim

Overlay Adjustments and Management Judgement under IFRS 9 in Kenya

Implementing IFRS 9 (International Financial Reporting Standard 9) in Kenya has been a transformative journey for the financial sector, shifting the focus from historical “incurred” losses to a forward-looking Expected Credit Loss (ECL) framework. While the standard is designed to be quantitative and data-driven, the reality of the Kenyan economic landscape often requires a delicate […]

Auditor Expectations: Common IFRS 9 Findings in Kenyan Audits

The implementation of IFRS 9, Financial Instruments, has brought significant changes to how financial assets and liabilities are accounted for, particularly in the areas of classification and measurement, impairment, and hedge accounting. For Kenyan entities, navigating these new standards has presented a steep learning curve, and auditors are meticulously examining compliance. Here, we delve into […]

Corporate Loans and Default Risk: The IFRS 9 Approach for Kenya

The adoption of International Financial Reporting Standard 9 (IFRS 9), effective globally from January 1, 2018, has fundamentally transformed how Kenyan financial institutions, including commercial banks, Microfinance Banks, and SACCOs, manage and account for credit risk, particularly concerning corporate loans and default risk. The core change is the shift from a backward-looking Incurred Credit Loss […]

Integrating Credit Risk Systems with IFRS 9 Workflows in Kenya

The financial landscape in Kenya, much like the rest of the world, has undergone significant transformation with the introduction of IFRS 9 Financial Instruments. This international accounting standard has fundamentally changed how financial institutions recognize, measure, and disclose financial assets and liabilities, placing a particular emphasis on forward-looking expected credit loss (ECL) provisioning. For Kenyan […]

IFRS 9 vs. IAS 39 in Kenya:

The global financial crisis of 2008 exposed a critical flaw in global accounting: the “too little, too late” problem of recognizing credit losses. When the crisis hit, banks were slow to provision for expected loan defaults because the prevailing standard, IAS 39 (Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement), only allowed them to recognize a loss after […]

Managing Data Gaps: Practical Data Solutions for IFRS 9 in Kenya

The adoption of IFRS 9 Financial Instruments in Kenya, mandated by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), introduced a fundamental shift in how financial institutions (FIs)—especially commercial banks and smaller entities like SACCOs—calculate loan loss provisions. The move from the backward-looking Incurred Credit Loss (ICL) model (under IAS 39) to a forward-looking Expected Credit Loss […]

IFRS 9 and NPL Resolution: Best Practices for Kenya Banks

The transition from the Incurred Credit Loss (ICL) model of IAS 39 to the Expected Credit Loss (ECL) model of IFRS 9 has fundamentally reshaped credit risk management and Non-Performing Loan (NPL) resolution strategies for commercial banks in Kenya. Implemented since January 2018, IFRS 9 mandates a forward-looking approach, requiring banks to recognize potential credit […]

Building an IFRS 9 Roadmap for Kenya Financial Institutions

The International Financial Reporting Standard 9 (IFRS 9) marked a pivotal change in global accounting, moving financial institutions from the reactive ‘Incurred Loss’ (IAS 39) model to a proactive ‘Expected Credit Loss’ (ECL) model. For commercial banks, microfinance banks, and SACCOs in Kenya, building a robust IFRS 9 roadmap has been critical for strengthening financial […]

IFRS 9 Impairment: Navigating the Shift for Microfinance and SACCOs in Kenya

The implementation of International Financial Reporting Standard 9 (IFRS 9) has fundamentally changed how financial institutions in Kenya—including Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies (SACCOs)—account for loan losses. The shift from the backward-looking Incurred Credit Loss (ICL) model under IAS 39 to the forward-looking Expected Credit Loss (ECL) model under IFRS 9 […]

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