The Kenya shilling traded at 129.97 to the US dollar on November 3, 2026, according to the Central Bank of Kenya’s daily table, which businesses use to price foreign payments. Against other major currencies, the shilling bought 174.45 per pound and 145.82 per euro, while the Japanese yen (per 100) was at 82.41.
The CBK’s daily table for November 3, 2026, puts the shilling at 129.97 to the US dollar. That is effectively unchanged from the 129.96 the bank recorded in its weekly bulletin for the week ending November 20, 2025. The currency has averaged close to 129 per dollar for more than a year, according to CBK data reported in January.
Against the pound, the shilling was quoted at 174.45, up from 169.67 a year earlier, a rise of about 2.8 percent. The euro stood at 145.82, down from 149.68, a fall of about 2.6 percent. The Japanese yen, quoted per 100 units, was at 82.41, little changed from 82.53 a year earlier.
Because the dollar rate has barely moved, the changes in the pound and euro mostly reflect how those currencies have moved against the dollar. The euro’s fall against the shilling therefore points to a weaker euro relative to the dollar over the period, while the pound has strengthened. The shilling’s stability against the dollar has not extended to every currency.
For importers and households, the practical effect depends on what they buy. Goods invoiced in dollars have not become more expensive through the exchange rate over the year. Goods priced in pounds may cost more, while purchases linked to the euro may have become cheaper.
The table is a reference rate, and the buying and selling rates offered by banks and money transfer services usually differ from it. Businesses paying foreign suppliers should check the rate they will actually receive before agreeing to a price.
The shilling’s stability has been backed by the country’s foreign exchange reserves. In the week ending November 20, 2025, usable reserves stood at US$12.01 billion, equal to 5.2 months of import cover. Some economic forecasts published in late 2025 expected the shilling to weaken to around 134 per dollar by the end of 2026, a view the current figures do not yet reflect. Dollar demand from manufacturers and importers has put pressure on the shilling at times and remains the main factor to watch.
The CBK’s next weekly bulletins will show whether the shilling holds its range against the dollar and whether the pound and euro keep moving. Reserve levels and signs of rising dollar demand will be the key indicators to watch in the coming weeks.
