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The latest CBK exchange rates show the Kenya shilling steady: the Central Bank of Kenya’s indicative mean rate was KSh 129.96 per US dollar on 29 October 2026, against KSh 129.91 a week earlier, while the pound was KSh 173.04 and the euro KSh 144.78. Foreign exchange reserves stood at USD 14,740 million, or 5.9 months of import cover, according to the CBK Weekly Bulletin of 30 October 2026.
Below are the daily CBK rates for the week, how they compare with the week before, and what the steady shilling means for importers, borrowers and families receiving money from abroad. Updated 2 November 2026. Source: CBK Weekly Bulletin, 30 October 2026, Tables 1 and 2.
CBK exchange rates, 23 to 29 October 2026
CBK indicative mean rates, Kenya shillings per unit of foreign currency (per 100 for the yen):
| Date | US dollar | Sterling pound | Euro | 100 Japanese yen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Oct | 129.89 | 173.58 | 145.34 | 82.62 |
| 26 Oct | 129.89 | 173.73 | 145.53 | 82.86 |
| 27 Oct | 129.96 | 173.26 | 145.10 | 82.43 |
| 28 Oct | 129.95 | 172.73 | 144.49 | 82.36 |
| 29 Oct | 129.96 | 173.04 | 144.78 | 82.33 |
| Week average | 129.93 | 173.27 | 145.05 | 82.52 |
| Previous week (16-22 Oct) | 129.91 | 173.39 | 145.81 | 82.19 |
Regional currencies are quoted the other way round, as units per Kenya shilling. On 29 October one shilling bought 33.50 Uganda shillings, 20.39 Tanzania shillings, 11.36 Rwanda francs and 23.08 Burundi francs.
What moved this week
- Dollar flat. The shilling traded in a 7-cent band, KSh 129.89 to 129.96, all week. The week average, KSh 129.93, was 2 cents weaker than the previous week’s KSh 129.91.
- Euro softer. The euro’s weekly average fell to KSh 145.05 from KSh 145.81, so euro costs for importers eased by about 0.5%.
- Pound steady at a weekly average of KSh 173.27 against KSh 173.39.
- Uganda shilling swing. The shilling bought between 33.14 and 34.58 Uganda shillings during the week, up from about 31 to 32 the week before, a big move for cross-border traders.
Why the shilling is stable
CBK’s bulletin points to three supports. First, reserves: USD 14,740 million on 29 October (5.9 months of import cover), above the statutory minimum of four months, though below USD 14,930 million on 1 October. Second, a liquid money market, with the overnight interbank rate (KESONIA) unchanged at 8.75%. Third, steady demand for government paper: the 29 October Treasury bill auction drew KSh 51.9 billion in bids for KSh 28 billion offered, 185.2% subscription; details are in our T-bill rates this week report.
The pressure points are prices. Inflation rose to 7.3% in October from 6.8% in September, with non-core inflation at 15.1%, and Murban crude rose to USD 110.46 a barrel on 29 October from USD 108.23 a week earlier, which raises the dollar bill for fuel imports. See our October inflation report.
What CBK exchange rates mean for you
- Importers: at the mean rate a USD 10,000 invoice costs about KSh 1,299,600; a EUR 10,000 invoice about KSh 1,447,800. Banks quote their own buy and sell rates around CBK’s mean.
- Diaspora senders: USD 500 converts to about KSh 64,980 at the mean rate before provider margins. Compare providers in our guide to diaspora remittances by country.
- Dollar borrowers and savers: a stable rate keeps repayments on USD loans predictable; for daily figures see dollar to shilling today.
CBK’s indicative rate is a reference average of interbank trades, not the price you will get at a bank, forex bureau or remittance app.
How to read and use CBK exchange rates
CBK publishes its indicative rates each working day on the “Daily KES Exchange Rates” page, with the mean, buying and selling figures for about 20 currencies, and summarises the week in the Weekly Bulletin every Friday. Public holidays such as Mashujaa Day (20 October) have no rate. Three practical tips:
- Use the mean for budgeting and the bank’s own “sell” rate for what you will actually pay when buying dollars.
- Check the date. A rate is for one working day; for a contract, agree which day’s CBK rate applies.
- Watch reserves and T-bill demand, which CBK reports weekly, as signals of how much room it has to keep the shilling steady.
Savers who want to compare shilling returns with dollar returns can use our rates tracker, which lists Treasury bill, money market fund and bond yields with history.
Frequently asked questions
What is the CBK dollar rate today?
The latest weekly CBK bulletin gives KSh 129.96 per US dollar on 29 October 2026. CBK publishes indicative rates every working day on its website.
How much are Kenya’s forex reserves?
USD 14,740 million on 29 October 2026, equal to 5.9 months of import cover, according to CBK.
Is the CBK rate the rate banks use?
No. It is an indicative mean. Banks and bureaus set their own buying and selling rates, usually with a spread around it.
Did the shilling weaken in October 2026?
Only marginally against the dollar: from KSh 129.89 on 16 October to KSh 129.96 on 29 October.
Source: Central Bank of Kenya, Weekly Bulletin, 30 October 2026; CBK daily KES exchange rates. Not investment advice.
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