Money sent home by Kenyans living abroad weakened in the first nine months of 2026 as a decline in transfers from North America offset gains from Europe, Asia and other regions, according to Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) data.
Kenyans abroad sent home approximately $3.769 billion between January and September 2026, equivalent to about Sh489.2 billion. This was slightly below the $3.774 billion recorded in the same period last year, a decline of about 0.14%, Business Daily reported on October 18.
The slowdown marks a reversal from the growth recorded in recent years and highlights the importance of diaspora income to Kenya’s households and external finances.
Remittances help families pay for education, housing, healthcare and daily expenses, while also providing a source of foreign currency for the economy.
North America, where the United States is the largest source of Kenyan diaspora transfers, accounted for much of the decline. Remittances from the region fell by 11.19% to $1.946 billion in the nine months to September, down from $2.191 billion a year earlier, according to the reported CBK figures.
The fall was partly offset by higher inflows from other regions, indicating that Kenya’s remittance sources are becoming more geographically varied.
However, the gains were not sufficient to push total inflows above the previous year’s level during the period.
Monthly figures offered a more positive picture for September. The CBK’s published data show that remittances reached approximately $438.5 million that month, compared with $419.6 million in September 2025. The increase year-on-year came despite a decline from August’s $451.8 million.
The difference between monthly and cumulative performance is important: a stronger month does not necessarily reverse a slowdown across the whole year. The figures also show why remittance trends need to be assessed over time rather than through a single month’s results.
For households that depend on transfers from relatives abroad, changes in remittances can affect how much money is available for regular expenses and larger purchases. Lower inflows may also influence small businesses that rely on diaspora-funded spending, property investment or family support.
At the national level, remittances are an important source of foreign exchange and help support Kenya’s balance of payments. A prolonged slowdown could reduce some of that support, although the overall effect depends on other foreign currency sources, including exports, tourism and investment.
The next monthly CBK releases will help establish whether September’s year-on-year increase signals a sustained recovery or remains an isolated improvement. For now, the first nine months of 2026 show that rising transfers from some regions have not fully compensated for weaker flows from North America.
