logo of fineducke

How to Open a CBK-CDS Account for Kenyans in Diaspora: A Step by Step Guide

How to Guides
feature image

Are you a Kenyan living abroad and interested in investing in Kenya government securities? Here’s a step-by-step guide to opening a CBK-CDS account.

The first step to opening a CBK-CDS account is visiting the Central Bank of Kenya website at www.centralbank.go.ke. While on the CBK website, on the search bar, type in ‘mandate card’ and click enter. 


The search results will present you with different related sections, in this case, you are interested with Treasury Bills and Bonds; click it.


While in the treasury bills and bonds page, choose your preferred choice. If you want to open the CDS account as an individual, then choose “DIASPORA CDS MANDATE CARD INDIVIDUALS” and if you are opening one as a business entity, then choose “DIASPORA CDS MANDATE CARD CORPORATE.” 


When you click either of the above, you will immediately redirected to the form which you will now download.


After downloading the mandate card (sample shown above)  the next phase will involve printing the mandate card and filling in your details. In your submission, make sure you include a recent colored passport size photograph and a certified copy of your Kenyan National Identity Card or Passport.

It is a condition that these documents be certified by a local commercial bank that is based in Kenya. For this reason, this process is best done when you have visited home. It can be challenging if you are not personally present in the country since the requirements clearly stipulate that “On completion, applicants will personally submit the duly completed card.”

The third step that will be required of you is taking the filled-in mandate card to your local commercial bank in Kenya for certification. The bank will stamp and have two authorized signatories sign the form.

After the form has been stamped and signed, the fourth step involves scanning the completed mandate card and emailing it to ndo@centralbank.go.ke. For the physical copy, send it by post to the address provided.

What will follow next is processing. When this fifth step is complete, you will have your CDS account opened. To know if your account is opened, you will be notified via email with the details of your account. A short period after you will receive a formal notification letter.

How to Apply for Treasury Bills and Bonds

After receiving your CDS account number, Step 1: Download the Treasury Bond Application Form from the Central Bank website. Fill in the required details such as issue number, duration, and the amount you wish to invest."

Step 2: Sign the application form and either email it to ndo@centralbank.go.ke or fax it to the provided number."

After submission, all successful applicants will be notified of their allocation and the amount they need to pay by contacting the Central Bank of Kenya.

Upon successful allocation, investors need to instruct their local commercial banks to remit the payable amounts by the specified deadline.

For any queries or further information, please contact the Director of the Financial Markets Department at Central Bank of Kenya. Your journey to investing in Kenya starts now!

Visit Central Bank of Kenya website for more details.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay.

Author

I’m Clinton Wamalwa Wanjala, a financial writer and certified financial consultant passionate about empowering the youth with practical financial knowledge. As the founder of Fineducke.com, I provide accessible guidance on personal finance, entrepreneurship, and investment opportunities.