CBK, KNBS Begin Household Survey to Determine Amount, Usage of Dollars Kenyans Receive from Abroad

• The first-ever Remittance Household Survey (RHS) in Kenya has kicked off across the country
• The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) called on households receiving or sending money to their families abroad to collaborate
• RHS 2025, conducted in collaboration with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), seeks to collect data on diaspora remittance amounts and usage

Wycliffe Musalia has over six years of experience in financial, business, technology, climate, and health reporting, providing deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends. He currently works as a business editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Kenyan households receiving or sending money to families living abroad have two months to submit information to the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).

CBK has announced the commencement of the Remittance Housing Survey, which aims to collect data from selected families, urging for collaboration.

The survey, conducted in collaboration with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) and the Financial Sector Deepening Kenya (FSD Kenya), is expected to run from July 2025 to September 2025.

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According to the regulator, remittance transactions in the country are growing in importance and require accurate and comprehensive data.

"The 2025 RHS, therefore, represents a major step towards improved data on remittances and will collect valuable information on the amount, uses, cost and the challenges that will inform policy formulation.

"Field officers will visit selected households that have received or sent remittances. We appeal to the selected households to cooperate and support the survey field staff," read CBK's notice in part.

Which remittance information is CBK looking for?

The bank said the survey will collect information on remittances received through informal channels and in-kind (non-cash) remittances.

The 2025 RHS, which is the first ever, aims to collect information on international remittance flows.

Remittances are support received by households in Kenya from households outside Kenya.

The support is received in the form of money (cash) and/or in-kind, without requiring the recipient to provide a corresponding item of economic value (good or service).

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Remittances can also include support sent by households in Kenya to non-resident households outside Kenya.

What are the current Kenya remittance stats?

Data from CBK indicates that in 2024, Kenya received KSh 666.7 billion in remittance flows via authorised international remittance service providers such as commercial banks, money transfer operators and mobile network operators.

The increase in diaspora remittance was estimated at 4% of Kenya's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In 2023, the country reported KSh 586 billion in remittance inflows.

Trump's 1% remittance tax

Meanwhile, a 1% remittance tax has been introduced by the US government on money sent to foreign countries by individuals living in America.

The tax is contained in President Donald Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' signed into law on July 4, 2025.

Experts shared the impact of the remittance tax on the Kenyan economy, as the US remains Kenya's largest contributor of remittances at 54%.

Geopolitical economist Ally Khan Satchu explained to TUKO.co.ke that the 1% tax is not as bad as the 5% that was initially floated.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke