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About 80% of the money Kenyans abroad send home is spent on consumption and only 20% goes into investment, Ambassador Isaiya Kabira, Kenya’s Secretary for Diaspora Investments, Skills and Entrepreneurship, said on October 30, 2026, urging the diaspora to invest more at home, Capital FM reported. He spoke at the opening of the Kenya-Australia “Faces of Connection” photo exhibition in Nairobi.
How big diaspora money is
Kabira put total diaspora earnings coming into Kenya at about $7 billion. Formal-channel figures are lower: the Central Bank of Kenya recorded about $5.04 billion in remittances in 2025, up from $4.95 billion in 2024. The wider 2025 Remittances Household Survey by KNBS, CBK and FSD Kenya, which also counts informal and non-cash transfers, recorded KSh931.8 billion received by Kenyan households between June 2024 and May 2025. That survey ranked Australia among the biggest sources, behind the United States and Germany.
| Measure | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Formal remittances, 2025 | ~$5.04bn | CBK |
| Formal remittances, 2024 | ~$4.95bn | CBK |
| Household remittances, Jun 2024–May 2025 (incl. informal) | KSh931.8bn | KNBS/CBK/FSD Kenya survey |
| Share used for consumption | ~80% | Amb. Kabira |
For the latest monthly numbers, see our report on September 2026 diaspora remittances.
Why the government wants more invested
Remittances are one of Kenya’s biggest sources of foreign exchange. Money spent on school fees, food and medical bills supports families, but investment in businesses, housing and securities creates longer-term income and jobs. The State Department for Diaspora Affairs runs a Diaspora Investment Support Office (DISO) that says it offers investment advice, links to county and private projects, and aftercare, including help with disputes.
Kenya-Australia links
Kabira, a former High Commissioner to Australia, renewed calls for direct flights, suggesting a Nairobi-Perth route that he said had been presented to Kenya Airways over the years. He also noted Kenyans working in Australia’s health and disability support sectors. The exhibition, organised by the Australian High Commission, runs free at Shah Houses in Ngara, Nairobi, until November 1, 2026.
What Kenyans abroad should know before investing at home
- Use regulated products: NSE shares, government securities, CMA-licensed money market funds and REITs can be bought from abroad.
- Bank properly: a diaspora account makes it easier to move and track money; see how to open a Kenyan bank account from abroad.
- Protect property deals: land and building projects run by relatives are a common source of loss. Use a formal power of attorney and do official searches.
- Get receipts and contracts for every payment, and visit or send an independent person to check progress.
FAQ
How much do Kenyans abroad send home?
About $5.04 billion through formal channels in 2025, according to CBK. Officials put total diaspora earnings at about $7 billion.
What share of remittances is invested?
About 20%, according to Ambassador Isaiya Kabira; the rest goes to consumption.
Where can diaspora investors get help?
The Diaspora Investment Support Office (DISO) under the State Department for Diaspora Affairs.
Updated October 31, 2026.
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