CENTRAL BANK OF KENYA
Opening Remarks
BY
PROF. NJUGUNA NDUNG’U
GOVERNOR, CENTRAL BANK OF KENYA
At the
INAUGURAL AFRICAN LEADERS ROUNDTABLE MEETING ON
AFRICA MOBILE PHONE FINANCIAL SERVICES POLICY
INITIATIVE (AMPI)
CO-HOSTED BY THE BANK OF TANZANIA, ALLIANCE FOR FINANCIAL
INCLUSION (AFI) AND CENTRAL BANK OF KENYA
Diamonds La Gemma Dell’ Est Hotel- Zanzibar, Tanzania
February 14-15, 2013

Professor Benno Ndulu, Governor, Bank of Tanzania;
Alfred Hannig, Executive Director, Alliance for Financial Inclusion;
Professor Mwangi Kimenyi, Director, African Growth Initiative, Brookings
Institution;
Distinguished Guests and Colleagues;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
On behalf of the co-hosts, Bank of Tanzania, Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI)
and Central Bank of Kenya, it is my honour to extend a warm welcome to all of
you to Zanzibar, Tanzania to participate in the ‘Inaugural Leaders Roundtable
meeting to launch the Africa Mobile Phone Financial Services Policy Initiative
(AMPI).
It is indeed encouraging to note that the efforts by all the pertinent players to
make this launch a success are being realized today. The fact that you have all
graced this occasion demonstrates our commitment as AFI members and the
passion we have to move financial inclusion to higher levels in our Continent and
the entire world. I take this opportunity, therefore, to applaud you for your
unending passion towards this initiative.
Ladies and Gentlemen, as you may recall, the idea to have a focused regional
initiative on Mobile Phone Financial Services (MFS) platform in Africa, was
initiated right here in Zanzibar during the first African Financial Inclusion Policy
Forum held in March 2012. This was following discussions held at Brookings
Institution, Washington D.C, on the importance of spurring MFS in Africa and
after a critical analysis of the hurdles that limit the scaling up of MFS in Africa. It
was further emphasised during the 4th Annual AFI Global Policy Forum (GPF),
held in Cape Town, South Africa in September 2012 where we, the African AFI
members, agreed to organize this inaugural African Leaders’ Roundtable meeting.
As AFI members, our major objective is to extend financial inclusion to the
Continent’s large unbanked populace. We recognise that there is significant
potential in the development of mobile phone financial services in Africa to
accomplish this. AMPI, therefore, will provide a framework through which we will
jointly determine effective policy solutions to advance MFS across the African
Continent while recognising the unique circumstances, environments, conditions
and needs of each country within the region.
Specifically, AMPI will seek to launch new, or expand on existing MFS policy,
regulatory initiatives and strategies with the objective of deepening the penetration

of MFS across Africa in line with our national agendas and policy priorities,
including the Maya Declarations, where they apply. Further, AMPI will provide a
platform for regional networking and cooperation. African AFI Members will be in
a position to share experiences and address policy issues which are common in
nature. This is expected to help us develop effective solutions, policy strategies
and regulatory frameworks that will be beneficial not only to Africa but also to the
wider AFI network.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is envisaged that AMPI’s broad objectives will be
achieved through tailored activities which include;
Tapping into the synergies and experiences of the AFI African members;
Mapping of comparative case studies on policies and regulatory implications
of new business models;
Advancement of research, studies and exchange of knowledge and
experiences around MFS;
Supporting the implementation of the Maya Declaration commitments relating
to MFS; and
Secondment/attachment of staff/members to different organisations of African
AFI member countries for further learning.
To successfully operationalise the AMPI initiative, we propose to establish an
AMPI help desk, but not necessarily a physical one, which will provide all
technical coordination towards the implementation of AMPI’s objectives and
activities. The key mandates of this help desk will be focused on facilitating
communication of the results and progress of AMPI, enabling engagement among
the AFI members and external stakeholders and ensuring synchronization of the
overall AFI strategy towards enhancing MFS in Africa. In addition, it will
contribute to our fulfilment of the Maya Declaration Commitments relating to
MFS. We will discuss, sharpen and adopt this proposal over the next two days.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my ardent belief that this initiative will go a long
way in enhancing financial inclusion in Africa. AMPI will pave the way for us to
create an enabling environment to support the delivery of financial services
through mobile phone technology and other emerging technologies, leading to
increased penetration of MFS in Africa. In addition, through the interaction
between members and the external stakeholders, AMPI will serve as a peer
learning and knowledge platform for AFI members to share and learn insights on
MFS.

In conclusion, I want to emphasize that access to financial services is a major
boost to a country’s overall economic health as well as in providing significant
benefits to low income households and unbanked populace. Therefore, the launch
of AMPI will provide a platform to enhance the growth of various economies in
Africa and fulfil our developmental aspirations. I am sure we all want to be part of
such a revolutionary initiative. In this regard, I want to encourage all of us to stay
focused and see to it that this initiative is a success.
AMPI will be a sub-network of AFI with specific deliverables. This roundtable
should also feel free as members of AFI to develop a framework of AMPI
modalities, including a governance structure.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I take this opportunity, once again, to thank all of you
for gracing this occasion and for your unrelenting support to this Initiative. More
specifically, I want to thank the Bank of Tanzania and the Alliance for Financial
Inclusion (AFI), for providing a platform for its members to enhance financial
inclusion and for their continued and focused support towards this initiative.
It is my hope that this roundtable meeting and launch of AMPI will spur us to
work together to develop smart and strategic policies and regulatory frameworks
that can catalyse MFS into a platform for innovation, leading to greater financial
inclusion and economic development in the African Continent.
THANK YOU