Send Money to Kenya
at the Best Rates
Compare 35+ verified providers for GBP, AUD, USD, CAD → KES transfers. See real exchange rates, real fees — and make sure every shilling reaches your family in full.
Remittances Are the Lifeblood of
East Africa's Silicon Savannah
Kenya receives over $4.2 billion USD in remittances annually, making it one of the top recipients in sub-Saharan Africa. The Kenyan diaspora — concentrated in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, and the UAE — sends vital support to families across all 47 counties. Kenya's fintech ecosystem is globally recognised: M-Pesa, launched by Safaricom in 2007, pioneered mobile money and today processes over 60% of Kenya's GDP through its network of more than 500,000 agents. With KES rates varying widely between providers, comparing before every transfer is the most powerful tool diaspora senders have to maximise value.
Choose Your Sending Country
Select the corridor that matches where you're sending from and instantly compare the best providers for that specific route to Kenya.
Send Money to Kenya in 4 Easy Steps
Flexible Payment Methods
Most providers support multiple payment methods for Kenya transfers. The right choice depends on your bank, how quickly funds are needed, and the total amount you're sending.
Receiving Options in Kenya
Kenya has one of the world's most advanced remittance ecosystems — from instant M-Pesa mobile money and Equity Bank digital accounts to RTGS bank transfers and cash pickup across all 47 counties.
Tips to Save More on Kenya Transfers
Diaspora remittances are too important to lose to unnecessary fees and poor exchange rates. These tips will help every Kenyan family abroad maximise what reaches home.
Transfer Limits &
Regulations to Know
Money transfers to Kenya are regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC) on the receiving side, and by financial authorities in your sending country. Kenya has specific foreign exchange regulations that apply to larger transfers — knowing the rules prevents surprises.
- Kenya allows inward personal remittances with no fixed annual cap for family support, education, and personal use purposes under Central Bank of Kenya regulations.
- All remittance service providers operating in Kenya must be authorised by the CBK. Use only CBK-registered institutions or internationally regulated services — unlicensed operators offer no consumer protections.
- Transfers above your provider's threshold (typically £5,000–£10,000) require enhanced identity verification — passport, proof of address, and source-of-funds documentation may be required.
- Kenya's Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) monitors large inward transfers. Transfers that could be considered income or business payments may have tax implications under Kenyan law.
- M-Pesa transactions have per-transaction and daily limits set by Safaricom and the CBK — currently KES 300,000 per transaction and KES 300,000 daily wallet limit. For very large remittances, bank transfer (RTGS) is recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about sending money to Kenya.
Kenya-focused services like Remitly, Wise, Sendwave, and WorldRemit typically offer significantly better KES rates than high-street banks — often 3–5% better. For the fastest delivery, choose a provider that supports direct M-Pesa delivery, which puts shillings in your recipient's hands within minutes. Use RemitSelect to compare all available options instantly for your specific amount and sending corridor before every transfer.
M-Pesa mobile money deliveries typically arrive within minutes — often under 60 seconds, 24/7 including weekends and public holidays. RTGS bank transfers arrive the same business day for large amounts. EFT transfers arrive the next business day. Cash pickup through Western Union or MoneyGram is usually available within minutes. Standard SWIFT bank transfers may take 1–2 business days.
The CBK imposes no fixed annual cap on receiving personal remittances. Individual provider limits typically range from £500 to £500,000 per transfer. M-Pesa has a per-transaction limit of KES 300,000 — for larger remittances, bank transfer (RTGS) is recommended. Enhanced verification is required above provider thresholds, and Kenya's FRC monitors large inflows for AML compliance.
Personal remittances received in Kenya are generally not subject to Kenyan income tax. Business-related or large irregular transfers may attract scrutiny from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA). Consult a tax adviser for substantial, business-related, or recurring large transfers to ensure compliance with both Kenyan and your home country tax obligations.
For M-Pesa: the recipient's registered Safaricom phone number (07XX or 01XX format) and their full registered name. For bank transfer: full name, account number, bank name, and branch sort code. For cash pickup: full legal name matching their valid government-issued ID (National ID card, passport, or driver's licence).
All major Kenyan banks accept international remittances, including Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), Equity Bank, Co-operative Bank of Kenya, Standard Chartered Kenya, Absa Kenya, NCBA, and I&M Bank. Digital platforms Equity Bank's Equitel and KCB M-Pesa also accept international transfers. All CBK-registered institutions support inward remittances from authorised international providers.