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Bank fraud losses in Kenya hit a record KSh 1.9 billion in 2025, and card fraud has overtaken mobile banking as the biggest source of stolen money. The figures come from the Central Bank of Kenya’s Kenya Financial Sector Stability Report 2025, whose fraud table was reported by Business Daily on 5 November 2026.
Actual losses rose to KSh 1.90 billion from KSh 1.59 billion in 2024, a 19.4% increase. Reported fraud cases climbed to 385 from 353, and the amount exposed to fraud rose to KSh 2.03 billion from KSh 1.96 billion. That means only about KSh 127 million of the money targeted was recovered.
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Bank fraud losses by type, 2024 vs 2025
| Type | Cases 2024 | Cases 2025 | Lost 2024 (KSh m) | Lost 2025 (KSh m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card fraud | 24 | 16 | 263.3 | 645.2 |
| Mobile banking fraud | 146 | 136 | 810.7 | 634.3 |
| Computer fraud | 12 | 16 | 203.4 | 212.5 |
| Identity theft | 56 | 63 | 199.1 | 168.2 |
| Online banking fraud | 106 | 132 | 111.8 | 157.5 |
| Internet scams | 9 | 22 | 6.1 | 86.5 |
| Total | 353 | 385 | 1,594.4 | 1,904.1 |
Card fraud losses more than doubled even though the number of cases fell, so each incident was far larger. Mobile banking losses dropped by about KSh 176 million, but the channel still accounted for a third of all losses. Internet scams were small in value but jumped from KSh 6.1 million to KSh 86.5 million.
What CBK says about rising bank fraud losses
“The increase in actual losses underscores the continued financial impact of cyber fraud on banks, with potential implications for their profitability and capacity to build capital,” the CBK says in the report. It notes that cybercriminals are mainly motivated by financial gain and that faster digitalisation brings more risk from cyber-attacks, data breaches and third-party service providers, while recovery of stolen funds remains low.
How to protect your accounts
- Turn on transaction alerts for every card and account, and check them daily.
- Never share card numbers, CVV codes, PINs or one-time passwords, including with callers who say they are from your bank.
- Use card controls in your banking app to block online or foreign use when you do not need it.
- Report a suspicious transaction to your bank at once; if the bank does not resolve it, you can complain to CBK.
For mobile money scams, see our guide to M-Pesa fraud.
Frequently asked questions
How much did Kenyan banks lose to fraud in 2025?
KSh 1.90 billion, up 19.4% from KSh 1.59 billion in 2024, according to CBK’s Financial Sector Stability Report 2025.
Which type of bank fraud caused the biggest losses?
Card fraud, at KSh 645.2 million, slightly ahead of mobile banking fraud at KSh 634.3 million.
How much of the money was recovered?
About KSh 127 million of the KSh 2.03 billion exposed, according to the CBK figures.
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