Launch of the Remittances Household Survey 2025, June 16 /SCREENGRAB
The United States was the largest source of remittances to Kenyan households between June 2024 and May 2025, according to findings from the Remittances Household Survey 2025.
The survey shows that 679,852 Kenyan households received a total of Sh931.9 billion in remittance inflows during the period under review, underscoring the growing importance of money sent home by Kenyans living and working abroad.
Of the total inflows, cash remittances amounted to Sh848.4 billion, accounting for 91 per cent, while in-kind remittances were valued at Sh83.5 billion, representing the remaining 9 per cent.
"The higher share of cash remittances confirms its important role in supporting households’ consumption, education, health and investment needs. It also confirms the flexibility of sending money as opposed to in-kind goods, which have relatively higher transaction costs and logistical challenges," the report states.
Analysis of cash remittance inflows by region shows that North America was the leading source, accounting for 47.1 per cent of all remittances received by Kenyan households.
The United States was the single largest source country, sending Sh388.1 billion in cash remittances and a further Sh17.3 billion in in-kind support during the review period.
Germany ranked among the leading sources of cash remittances, accounting for Sh85.3 billion or 10.1 per cent of total cash inflows.
Spain followed with Sh38.6 billion. Other notable contributors from Western Europe included Norway and the United Kingdom, which accounted for Sh24 billion and Sh20.8 billion in cash remittances respectively.
Australia also emerged as a significant source of remittances, sending Sh59.8 billion in cash transfers to Kenyan households.
The Middle East contributed Sh105.4 billion in cash remittances, equivalent to 12.4 per cent of the total received during the period.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates were the region's leading contributors, jointly accounting for Sh100.3 billion in cash remittance inflows.
Within Africa, the East African Community (EAC) was the dominant source of remittances. South Sudan led cash remittance inflows at Sh36 billion, followed by Tanzania at Sh4.9 billion and Uganda at Sh4.1 billion.
In the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region, Ethiopia ranked first with cash remittance inflows worth Sh9.2 billion, followed by Egypt at Sh5.8 billion.
Beyond cash transfers, Kenyan households received Sh83.5 billion worth of in-kind remittances during the survey period.
The United States again emerged as the leading source, accounting for Sh17.3 billion worth of goods sent to households in Kenya.
These in-kind remittances largely comprised clothing, footwear and electronic devices such as laptops and mobile phones.
The United Kingdom was the second-largest source of in-kind remittances, accounting for Sh15.1 billion or 18.1 per cent of all non-cash inflows.
Mobile phones made up nearly 96 per cent of the items received from the country. The Middle East contributed Sh13.5 billion worth of in-kind remittances, representing 16.1 per cent of the total.
Most of these originated from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which jointly accounted for Sh12.8 billion.
Clothing, jewellery and mobile phones were the main items received from the UAE, while mobile phones dominated shipments from Saudi Arabia.
Within the EAC, Uganda was the leading source of in-kind remittances at Sh4.3 billion.
Unlike cash transfers, these remittances were largely in the form of food items, followed by clothing.
South Sudan was the second-largest source of in-kind remittances within the bloc at Sh865.9 million, followed by Tanzania at Sh564.2 million.
Food items accounted for the bulk of in-kind remittances received from both countries.
