Kenyans abroad sent home US$438.5 million in September, up 4.5% year on year

Kenyans living abroad sent home US$438.5 million in September 2026, according to Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) figures.

That is 4.5% above the US$419.6 million received in September 2025, Business Radar, a Kenyan business news site, reported on 17 October, citing the CBK weekly bulletin. September was lower than August, when remittances were US$451.8 million.

Over the 12 months to September, remittances totalled US$5,032 million, down 1.0% from US$5,080 million in the previous 12 months.

Of the September total, North America accounted for US$215.5 million, Europe US$97.7 million and the rest of the world US$125.3 million.

Compared with September 2025, North America fell from US$245.9 million, about 12.4% lower. Europe rose from US$81.6 million, about 19.7% higher, and the rest of the world from US$92.1 million, about 36% higher. North America remains the largest source.

Kenya's Business Daily reported on 23 October, using CBK data, that money sent from other African countries rose 43.6% in the nine months to September to US$323.87 million (KSh 42.04 billion), from US$225.54 million (KSh 29.27 billion) in the same period of 2025.

Tanzania sent US$78.43 million, up 47.16% from US$53.29 million, and Uganda US$56.57 million, up 23.7% from US$45.73 million. Saudi Arabia sent US$121.45 million, down 51.68% from US$251.33 million.

The United States remained the largest single source in the nine months at US$1.79 billion (KSh 232.21 billion), down 12.63% from US$2.05 billion.

Business Daily said the CBK data do not establish whether more Kenyans are moving to African countries for work.