Kenya’s diaspora remittances rose to a record Ksh.650.16 billion ($5.04 billion) in 2025, crossing the $5 billion mark for the first time.
The remittances are one of Kenya’s most dependable sources of foreign exchange and come as the government rolls out a 2025–2030 Diaspora Investment Strategy for formalising and expanding diaspora contributions beyond household support.
The 2025 total represented a 1.9 percent increase from $4.95 billion in 2024, extending a long-term growth trend that has seen annual remittances rise nearly fifteen times since 2004.
Only one year, 2009, recorded a decline.
More than half of all remittances received since tracking began have come in after 2020.
Also Read: Diaspora remittances up 14.2% to Ksh.34.4 billion in August
Inflows reached $440.1 million in May, $438.8 million in October, and $435.5 million in December, making six of the ten highest monthly inflows in Kenya’s history.
October inflows rose slightly year on year, while November dipped to $388.3 million before rebounding strongly in December. November witnessed a slowdown but stayed above $5 billion.
By October, cumulative remittances had reached $4.21 billion, the highest level ever recorded for the January–October period. By the end of November, inflows stood at $4.60 billion, leaving December to confirm the record year.
Over time, remittances have climbed steadily, crossing $1 billion in 2012, $2 billion in 2018, $3 billion in 2020, $4 billion in 2022, and now $5 billion in 2025.
