Updated 27 October 2026
The dollar to shilling today rate published by the Central Bank of Kenya on 27 October 2026 put the US dollar at KSh 129.96. The same CBK board showed the sterling pound at KSh 173.26 and the euro at KSh 145.10. Those are CBK indicative rates, not a bank’s customer buying or selling price. This markets desk note explains the day’s print, what else CBK published beside it, and what it means in shillings for importers, travellers and savers.
Updated 27 October 2026. Source: CBK indicative exchange rates and key rates board on centralbank.go.ke (posted 27-10-2026). Not investment advice. Banks add spreads and fees.
Dollar to shilling today: the CBK print
| Currency | CBK indicative rate (27 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| US dollar | 129.96 |
| Sterling pound | 173.26 |
| Euro | 145.10 |
CBK’s indicative rates are a public reference. Commercial banks, forex bureaus and payment apps quote their own buy and sell prices around that reference. Always compare the rate and the fee on the channel you will actually use before you move money.
Other CBK key rates beside the shilling
On the same day, CBK’s key rates board showed:
- Central Bank Rate 8.75% (dated 7 October 2026);
- 91-day Treasury bill 8.748% (dated 26 October 2026);
- inflation 6.8% for September 2026;
- average lending rate 14.4% and savings rate 3.53% for September 2026.
The 91-day paper sitting a shade under the CBR is the week’s cleanest link between policy and short-term government borrowing. For how to participate in auctions, see how to buy Treasury bills in Kenya. For a wider menu of shilling options, see best investments in Kenya and the investment returns calculator.
What KSh 129.96 means in ordinary decisions
- Importers: a dollar invoice of USD 10,000 is about KSh 1.30 million at the indicative rate before bank spread, IDF, duty and transport.
- Travellers: USD 500 of cash or card spend is about KSh 64,980 at the indicative rate before bureau or card fees.
- Diaspora senders: the rate your remittance app shows will differ from CBK’s print; compare the shillings the recipient gets after fees.
- Borrowers: the CBR at 8.75% anchors loan pricing with a lag; your contract rate still rules.
How to read the rate without fooling yourself
- Note the date on CBK’s board; weekends and public holidays can leave the last working day’s print showing.
- Ask your bank for both buy and sell quotes in writing.
- Check whether the quote is for cash, TT, or card, and which fees sit on top.
- For large import payments, ask about the booking window and whether the rate is guaranteed until settlement.
If you are investing the shillings rather than spending them, Treasury bills and money market funds are the usual short-duration comparisons. Our Treasury bill guide and investment calculator linked above keep the maths in KSh.
CBK indicative rate versus the rate on your app
Three prices usually sit next to each other on any given afternoon:
- the CBK indicative dollar to shilling today print;
- your bank’s telegraphic-transfer buy and sell quotes;
- a card or wallet mid-market rate with a separate fee line.
A cheap-looking rate with a large flat fee can lose to a slightly worse rate with a small fee once you convert a specific amount. For a USD 200 family transfer the fee dominates; for a USD 20,000 import invoice the rate dominates. Do the arithmetic in KSh both ways before you confirm.
Links to keep open beside the rate board
Importers still need the customs path after they buy dollars. Our clearing guides on bonded warehouses and customs valuation explain KRA’s process in plain language. Savers who convert hard currency into shilling paper should still read the Treasury bill how-to before bidding. None of those pages replaces CBK’s PDF or your bank’s deal confirmation.
Keep a dated screenshot of CBK’s board when you make a large decision. Arguments with suppliers about “the rate that day” are easier when both sides can see the same official print. Refresh centralbank.go.ke the morning you settle, because the board can move on the next working day even if your invoice is unchanged.
Mobile money dollar collections and card settlements use their own mid-market references. Treat those as separate products from the CBK indicative board, even when the headline number looks similar.
Frequently asked questions
What is the dollar to shilling today according to CBK?
On 27 October 2026 CBK’s indicative rate for the US dollar was KSh 129.96.
Will my bank give me 129.96?
Usually not exactly. Banks and bureaus quote buy and sell prices around the indicative rate and add fees.
Where does CBK publish the rate?
On the daily indicative exchange rates section of centralbank.go.ke.
What was the 91-day T-bill beside today’s dollar rate?
CBK’s board showed 8.748% for the 91-day Treasury bill, dated 26 October 2026.
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.
