The Accountants Act establishes KASNEB and also contains the functions of KASNEB. KASNEB is an acronym for the Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examinations Board.
The mandate of KASNEB is the development of syllabuses, the conduct of professional, diploma and technician examinations and certification of candidates in accountancy, finance, credit, governance and management, information technology and related disciplines.
KASNEB also ensures the promotion of its qualifications nationally and internationally and the accreditation of relevant training institutions in liaison with the ministry in charge of education.
KASNEB was established as a state corporation under the National Treasury by the Government of Kenya in 1969. The establishment and operations of KASNEB are governed by the following main Acts of Parliament:
- The Accountants Act;
- The Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya Act;
- The Investment and Financial Analysts Act.
The Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examinations Board.–
- shall be a body corporate;
- shall have a common seal kept in such manner as the Examinations Board directs;
- may with the prior approval of the Minister responsible for matters relating to finance, borrow, lend or otherwise raise money in such usual manner, including by way of executing securities and guarantees, as it may from time to time determine;
- may acquire, hold, develop and dispose of property, whether movable or immovable, in the normal course of business;
- may acquire, hold and dispose of investments in other enterprises subject to approval by the Minister; and
- may sue and be sued in its corporate name.
All courts, judges and other persons acting judicially shall take judicial notice of the seal of the Examinations Board affixed to a document and shall presume that it was duly affixed.
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Membership of KASNEB
KASNEB shall consist of eleven members appointed by the Minister responsible for matters relating to finance, of whom–
- one shall be nominated by the Minister for the time being responsible for Finance. The Minister shall consider the need to appoint a person who has the responsibility of guiding and advising on the policy relating to accountancy and accountability in Government;
- one shall be nominated by the Minister for the time being responsible for Technical and Business Training. The Minister shall consider the need to appoint a person who has responsibility for overseeing and is in charge of technical and business training matters in the Government.;
- one shall be nominated by the Federation of Kenya Employers. The person shall be engaged in industry or commerce;
- one shall be the Director of Personnel Management or a person nominated by him;
- one shall be nominated by the Attorney-General;
- two shall be nominated by the Council of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya;
- two shall be nominated by the Council of the Institute of Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya; and
- two shall be nominated by KASNEB, being persons who have an interest in and have made a significant contribution in the development of education in accountancy, secretarial and related areas.
In addition to these members, there shall be a Secretary to KASNEB who the Minister for the time being responsible for finance shall appoint as KASNEB recommends.
The Secretary to the Examinations Board shall hold and vacate the office of the Secretary following the terms specified in the instrument of their appointment to that office.
The Secretary to the Examinations Board may attend meetings of the Examinations Board. They may, with the consent of the person presiding at a meeting, take part in the deliberations on any matter arising at the meeting. However, the Secretary is not entitled to vote on any such matter.
In addition to the functions they are required to exercise and perform under the Accountants Act, the Secretary to the Examinations Board shall exercise and perform such other functions as the Examinations Board may, from time to time, determine.
Functions of KASNEB
The functions of KASNEB shall be to–
- prepare syllabuses for professionals’ and technicians’ examinations in accountancy and company secretarial practice and related disciplines;
- make rules for such examinations;
- arrange and conduct examinations and issue certificates to candidates who have satisfied examination requirements;
- promote recognition of its examinations in foreign countries;
- investigate and determine cases involving indiscipline by students registered with the Examinations Board;
- promote and carry out research relating to its examinations;
- promote the publication of books and other materials relevant to its examinations;
- liaise with the Ministry of Education in the accreditation of institutions offering training in subjects examinable by the Board; and
- do anything incidental or conducive to the performance of any of the preceding functions.
The Examinations Board shall consult with the Council of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya and with the Council of the Institute of Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya and any other appropriate stakeholder, as often as it considers it necessary to do so to exercise and perform its functions.
The Examinations Board may consult such other parties as it considers appropriate in facilitating the performance of its functions.
The Examinations Board may establish such committees (including examinations committees) as it considers necessary for exercising and performing its functions may determine the membership and procedure of any such committee.
For more about the functions of KASNEB and the Examinations Board in general, see the Accountants Act(External Link) or their website.