Updated 1 November 2026
Diaspora remittances to Kenya came to USD 5.03 billion (about KSh 654 billion) in the 12 months to September 2026, according to the Central Bank of Kenya’s monthly data by source country. The United States alone sent USD 2.47 billion, about 49% of the total, but US inflows fell 12.6% in January to September 2026 against the same months of 2025. The UK, Australia, the UAE and the rest of Africa grew fast enough to keep the total almost flat. Updated November 2026.
Updated November 2026. Source: Central Bank of Kenya, Diaspora Remittances data file “Remittances by Source (USD ‘000)”, September 2026 edition, read 1 November 2026. KSh figures use USD 1 = KSh 129.92 (1 November 2026) and are rounded.
Diaspora remittances to Kenya by country: top 10 (12 months to September 2026)
| Rank | Country | USD million | About KSh billion | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 2,472.6 | 321.2 | 49.1% |
| 2 | United Kingdom | 409.3 | 53.2 | 8.1% |
| 3 | Australia | 278.0 | 36.1 | 5.5% |
| 4 | Germany | 207.3 | 26.9 | 4.1% |
| 5 | Canada | 183.7 | 23.9 | 3.7% |
| 6 | United Arab Emirates | 178.8 | 23.2 | 3.6% |
| 7 | Saudi Arabia | 172.2 | 22.4 | 3.4% |
| 8 | Tanzania | 99.4 | 12.9 | 2.0% |
| 9 | Uganda | 78.2 | 10.2 | 1.6% |
| 10 | Qatar | 71.3 | 9.3 | 1.4% |
The 12 months run from October 2025 to September 2026. CBK records the country the money was sent from, which is not always where the sender lives.
Which countries are growing and which are falling
Comparing January to September 2026 with January to September 2025:
| Country | Jan to Sep 2025 (USD m) | Jan to Sep 2026 (USD m) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2,047.6 | 1,789.0 | -12.6% |
| Saudi Arabia | 251.3 | 121.5 | -51.7% |
| United Kingdom | 262.5 | 311.7 | +18.7% |
| Australia | 170.5 | 216.8 | +27.2% |
| Germany | 141.7 | 158.8 | +12.0% |
| Canada | 124.4 | 142.6 | +14.6% |
| United Arab Emirates | 97.0 | 150.2 | +54.9% |
| Tanzania | 53.3 | 78.4 | +47.2% |
| Uganda | 45.7 | 56.6 | +23.7% |
| All countries | 3,774.2 | 3,768.9 | -0.1% |
Two shifts stand out. Flows from Saudi Arabia have roughly halved while those from the UAE rose by more than half. And money from the US, still the biggest source by far, is lower, while Europe (+17.1%), Africa (+43.6%) and Australia and Oceania (+27.8%) all rose. The CBK data shows the amounts only; it does not give the reasons.
Remittances by region
| Region | 12 months to Sep 2026 (USD m) | Share | Jan to Sep change vs 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| America | 2,679.4 | 53.3% | -11.2% |
| Europe | 1,025.4 | 20.4% | +17.1% |
| Asia (including the Gulf) | 595.1 | 11.8% | -5.4% |
| Africa | 420.4 | 8.4% | +43.6% |
| Australia and Oceania | 285.1 | 5.7% | +27.8% |
Within the blocs CBK tracks, the European Union sent USD 504.9 million over the 12 months and the East African Community USD 272.7 million. In September 2026 alone, total inflows were USD 438.5 million (about KSh 57 billion), up from USD 419.6 million in September 2025. Our September 2026 remittances report has the monthly story.
What this means if you send or receive money
- Cost matters more than the headline. Fees and exchange-rate margins differ a lot by corridor. Compare live quotes before each transfer using our guide to the cheapest way to send money to Kenya.
- M-Pesa is the usual landing point. See how to receive money from abroad on M-Pesa, including limits.
- Put some of it to work. Most remittances go to consumption; our look at how diaspora money is used covers the investment side.
Remittances in context: why the US share matters
Because almost half of all diaspora money comes from one country, changes in the US hit Kenyan households quickly. In January to September 2026, US inflows fell by about USD 259 million and Saudi inflows by about USD 130 million. Rises elsewhere offset this: the UK, Australia, the UAE, Germany, Canada, Tanzania and Uganda added about USD 220 million together, and smaller gains across Africa, Asia and Europe made up the rest, which is why the national total barely moved. For families that rely on a relative in the US, the practical response is to budget on the shilling amount actually received, not the dollar amount sent, since the exchange rate and fees both change the final figure. If you send money regularly, setting up a fixed monthly transfer with a provider that shows its rate upfront makes the amount at home easier to plan around.
How to read the CBK remittance data yourself
- Open the CBK Diaspora Remittances page and download the latest monthly Excel file.
- Figures are in thousands of US dollars (“USD ‘000”), by region and country, month by month since 2019 in the current file.
- “Other” rows group smaller countries; “Other Countries NES” means not elsewhere specified.
- CBK usually adds a new month a few weeks after the month ends.
Diaspora remittances to Kenya: frequently asked questions
How much do Kenyans abroad send home?
USD 5.03 billion (about KSh 654 billion) in the 12 months from October 2025 to September 2026, per CBK data.
Which country sends the most remittances to Kenya?
The United States, with USD 2.47 billion in the 12 months to September 2026, or about 49% of the total. The UK is second with USD 409 million.
Are remittances to Kenya growing in 2026?
Overall they were flat: USD 3,768.9 million in January to September 2026 against USD 3,774.2 million a year earlier (-0.1%). The US and Saudi Arabia fell, while the UK, Australia, the UAE and African countries rose.
Where does CBK publish remittance figures?
On its Diaspora Remittances page at centralbank.go.ke, as a monthly Excel file broken down by source country and region.
Prefer WhatsApp? Follow Business Radar on WhatsApp
Weekly, free. We only use your email for this newsletter and you can unsubscribe in one click. Privacy policy.
