Kenya’s diaspora remittance inflows have grown significantly over the years, rising from US$3.718 billion (Sh482.9 billion) in 2021 to US$4.028 billion (Sh523.2 billion) in 2022, before reaching US$4.190 billion (Sh 544.2 billion) in 2023.
The upward trend continued in 2024, when inflows climbed to US$4.945 billion (Sh642.3 billion), before rising further to US$5.037 billion (Sh654.3 billion) in 2025, reflecting the growing contribution of Kenyans living abroad to the country’s economy.
The Central Bank of Kenya projects remittance inflows to reach US$5.073 billion (Sh658.9 billion) in 2026 and US$5.226 billion (Sh678.8 billion) in 2027, pointing to continued growth over the coming years.
However, the 12 months to August 2026 recorded US$5.013 billion (Sh651.1 billion), down 1.3 per cent from US$5.079 billion (Sh659.7 billion) in the corresponding period to August 2025.
The slowdown was also reflected in the January–August figures, with remittances falling slightly from US$3.355 billion (Sh435.8 billion) in 2025 to US$3.330 billion (Sh 432.5 billion) in 2026, a decrease of 0.7 per cent. Despite the recent dip, annual inflows remain above US$5 billion, underscoring the continued importance of diaspora remittances to Kenya’s economy.
