PRIME Why World Bank sees new Kenya’s forex reserves pressure The official reserves have already recorded a reduction since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran in March, but the Kenya Shilling has held firm to trade in a narrow-bound range of 129 to 130...
PRIME Diaspora remittances lose steam on Iran war fallout The latest downturn mirrors the 2023 decline, when remittances in the review period contracted 1.8 percent as elevated global inflation, driven by post-pandemic supply chain disruptions and...
PRIME UK loses grip as top source of Kenya’s diaspora inflows Findings mark a sharp shift from historical trends when Britain was Kenya’s dominant migration destination outside Africa and the United States, driven by colonial links, education and trade.
PRIME More Kenyan women than men in diaspora send support home Women dominated diaspora support to Kenyan households, while men remained the largest senders of cash remittances.
PRIME Kenyan households spend Sh28bn educating children abroad Students accounted for more than two-thirds of Kenya’s remittance outflows.
PRIME Sh280bn hidden diaspora remittances now revealed The findings reveal that millions of shillings are reaching households through informal channels outside the banking system
PRIME Silver, platinum to form part of CBK vault reserves under new proposal Both silver and platinum have benefited from strong industrial applications, which have set them apart from gold’s primarily monetary and safe-haven role.
PRIME Rise in Sh1,000 banknotes in circulation The trend signals a sustained preference for large-denomination notes among businesses and households, amid rising transaction values in an inflationary environment and the need for convenience...
PRIME CBK’s gold reserves value jumps fastest in over a decade to hit Sh309m Central banks across emerging markets have been increasing gold holdings as a safeguard against geopolitical risks and currency depreciation.
PRIME Saudi remittances fall over permit rules Saudi Arabia, which has ranked as Kenya’s second-largest remittance source in recent years, dropped to sixth place this year after being overtaken by the UK, Australia, Germany and the UAE.
PRIME Shilling’s 129 peg at risk as Iran war volatility rattles market Although the shilling has regained ground to trade at Sh129.27 versus the dollar, economists said that the CBK will face growing test over whether to keep intervening on the market, while...
PRIME Kenya freezes Binance accounts in money laundering purge Cryptocurrencies have raised concerns among regulators globally due to their susceptibility to illicit activity.
PRIME Citi sees shilling faces renewed pressure on costly fuel amid Iran war The Kenya shilling has remained stable despite heightened geopolitical risks with the CBK attributing the continued strength of the local unit to diversified foreign exchange inflows, increased...
PRIME New crypto rules could lift Kenya from FATF grey list, say analysts Tighter oversight of digital assets could ease compliance risks but raises concerns over costs and innovation.
PRIME CBK cuts projection of diaspora remittances by Sh40bn Diaspora remittances remain the biggest source of foreign exchange for Kenya, ahead of tourism receipts and agriculture exports, and a key contributor to the country’s current account which...
PRIME Stable shilling cuts banks’ losses from regional units Tier One lenders Equity Group, KCB Group, NCBA Group, DTB Group, Stanbic and I&M Group operate regional subsidiaries spread across Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, Burundi and the...
PRIME Shilling hits Sh130 amid rising demand for dollars This is the first time the shilling has strayed above the 129 level in 20 months, a period which marked one of the longest runs at a single exchange level for the local unit.
PRIME Iran war tests the shilling as risk of costly imports rises Higher oil prices present the most immediate risk for the currency, given that fuel is Kenya’s largest import item.
PRIME Banks’ forex income hit by US dollar surplus The lenders typically earn more fees from trading currencies when there is volatility. A dynamic market drives demand for stronger currencies besides other related services like hedging.
PRIME Gold prices at NSE up on Iran conflict jitters Analysts see the renewed rally as a flight to safety pivot as the conflict between the US and Iran threatens fresh economic instability, affecting riskier asset classes like equities and...
PRIME CBK sees diaspora remittances reaching Sh676bn in 2026 The growth in cash sent by Kenyans abroad stood at 1.9 percent in 2025 to reach $5.04 billion (Sh650 billion)—compared to a growth of 18 percent in 2024.
PRIME UK edges past Saudi Arabia as diaspora labour shifts reshape remittances Remittances from the UK edged past Saudi Arabia in 2025 as higher transfer costs and labour reforms in the Gulf disrupted cash flows from Kenyan workers.
PRIME Diaspora remittances record softest growth in 15 years CBK data shows Kenyans abroad sent home an average of about $420 million (Sh54.2 billion) per month in 2025, keeping inflows above the $400 million (Sh51.6 billion) mark despite tightening global...
PRIME Interbank market reforms boost Kenya dollar liquidity, says Absa The Global Code is maintained by the Global Foreign Exchange Committee (GFXC) as a set of guidelines to ensure an efficient wholesale foreign exchange market.
PRIME How CBK’s Sh9 trn liquidity mop-up stabilised shilling The shilling has been trading within a narrow band around the129 level to the dollar since August 2024, having defied a series of global shocks including US trade tariffs and conflict in the...
