Best ways to send money to Kenya

Q: What details are needed to send money to Kenya?

The details you'll need to send money internationally from the United Kingdom to Kenya may vary by provider, and based on the value of the transfer. At a minimum, whenever you make an international bank transfer you will typically be asked for: Bank code Account number

Q: Can I send international money transfers from the United Kingdom to Kenya for free?

You can't send money to Kenya from the United Kingdom for free. Providers incur costs to arrange international transfers, making fees necessary to sustain their business and generate profit. Real costs are involved in moving money abroad, so providers invariably charge a fee to ensure profitability.

Q: When is the best time to transfer money from the United Kingdom to Kenya?

There is no official best time to send money from the United Kingdom to Kenya and that depends on a variety of factors such as when you need to send money or when you want the funds to be received. It’s also going to depend on a variety of other factors such as, the time when you send money or the fees you are offered by providers or banks.

Q: What is the best way to send large amounts of money to Kenya from the United Kingdom?

When you’re sending a high value payment it’s especially important to do your research and find a provider which is safe and which offers low fees and great exchange rates. It’s also well worth comparing some providers based on transfer times, as the delivery time can also vary pretty widely. Some international money transfer services offer discounts for high value transfers, either through lower fees or a better exchange rate. Use the Exiap cost comparison calculator to make sure you’re getting the very best deal available for your specific transfer.

Q: How to send large amounts of money to Kenya?

While sending a high value payment works very similarly to sending any other transfer overseas, the provider may require additional information to verify the payment. You might be asked to prove the source of the funds, for example, to comply with local and international financial services legislation. If you’re sending a large amount of money you’ll also need to make sure the provider you’ve picked can support the amount, as maximum payment limits may apply.

Q: How do I know if there is an international bank transfer fee in Kenya?

To send money to Kenya using one of the international money transfer providers in our tables, the fees range from 30.18 GBP with XE to 149.44 GBP with Barclays (but the fee could be even higher with a bank). The exact cost depends a lot on where you’re sending money, how much you’re sending, how you want to pay, and how you want the payment to be received. Typically sending money directly to a recipient’s bank account using a specialist service can be done with fairly low costs, while traditional bank transfer fees can be higher. Paying for your transfer with either a credit card or cash can often mean the fees crank up, too. When you’re sending money internationally, don’t forget that the overall fee you pay can include the transfer fee, an extra charge wrapped up in the exchange rate used, and third party charges like a cash advance fee from your credit card issuer.

Q: How do I know if there any international money transfer limits in Kenya?

There is no legal limit on how much money can be sent to or from the United Kingdom, although banks and other payment providers may impose their own limits. Money transfer limits can vary quite widely between providers, and may also change depending on how you want to fund your transfer. You could find different limits in place when you pay by card compared to paying using a bank transfer, for example.

We've compared the cheapest, fastest and safest ways to send money to Kenya from the United Kingdom. Take a look at our comparison table and our detailed review below.

I am sending

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Comparing 8 providers for your transfer of £5000 GBP to KES

Provider

Trustpilot

Speed

Total cost

Amount received when sending £5,000

Go to provider

The Best Deal

1 min ago

82,306 Reviews

4.4

2-3days

£ 30.18GBPshow more

KSh863,825.76KES

1 min ago

Go to site

1 min ago

279,091 Reviews

4.3

0-2days

£ 53.80GBPshow more

KSh859,689.00KES

1 min ago

Go to site

1 min ago

99,553 Reviews

4.6

0-2days

£ 82.40GBPshow more

KSh854,950.00KES

1 min ago

Go to site

yesterday

22,193 Reviews

4.5

Varies

£ 118.56GBPshow more

KSh848,911.26KES

yesterday

Go to site

19 mins ago

924.00 Reviews

1.2

Varies

£ 133.10GBPshow more

KSh846,506.20KES

19 mins ago

Go to site

19 mins ago

7,863 Reviews

1.4

Varies

£ 133.45GBPshow more

KSh846,447.71KES

19 mins ago

Go to site

18 mins ago

24,892.00 Reviews

2.2

Varies

£ 143.85GBPshow more

KSh844,737.50KES

18 mins ago

Go to site

2 days ago

15,424 Reviews

3.5

Varies

£ 149.44GBPshow more

KSh843,820.15KES

2 days ago

Go to site

How we found the best ways to send money

Our database includes 27 secure providers. For your specific transfer of £5000 from GBP to KES, we found 8 providers that support this route and for the amount you want to send. We sort these by the cheapest total cost, displaying the freshest data available, whether via direct feed or manual collection. This process is never influenced by referral fees, ensuring you get a fair and transparent comparison every time. Learn more

Quick Verdict: The best ways to send money to Kenya

Category	Winner	Key Stats
💰Cheapest Cost	XE	Total Fees: £30.18
📈Best Exchange Rate	Wise	Rate: 173.8080
⚡Fastest Transfer	Wise	Time: Instant-2 Days
⭐Customer Favourite	Remitly	TrustScore: 4.6/5

You can send money to Kenya with a bank, or you can choose a specialist transfer provider. Often, these providers offer a faster, more efficient, and cheaper way to send money from the United Kingdom to Kenya.

On this page

How to Cheapest Fastest Best Rated Exchange Rate FAQs

How to Send Money to Kenya: Step-by-Step

The good news is that sending money to Kenya is easier than ever. Plus you can usually do everything with your phone or laptop - with no need to stand in line at a bank or money changer’s office. Here’s how to send money to Kenya in 5 simple steps:

Choose a Money Transfer Service
- Enter the amount of money you want to transfer into our comparison tool
- Compare rates, fees, and delivery speed. You’ll see a range of options from reliable providers, so you can compare and pick the best for your specific transfer
- Consider user reviews and security features
Register with your chosen provider
- Register with your chosen provider (e.g XE, Wise, Remitly)
- Verify your ID if required
Enter Recipient Details
- Add the recipient’s full name and bank details or email, depending on the method
Select Amount and Currency
- Choose how much to send and the currency (e.g. GBP to KES)
- Review exchange rates and fees upfront
Pay for Your Transfer
- Choose from options like bank debit, credit card, apple/google pay or bank transfer (depending on what's available from the provider)
- Get confirmation and a tracking link if available
- Notify your recipient if needed

You can send money from the United Kingdom to Kenya using your bank, a specialist money transfer service, an e-wallet, or by visiting a physical money remittance store. Each option has different pros and cons, so the best for you will depend on your specific transfer and personal requirements.

The cheapest way to send money to Kenya

Of the 8 providers we found for sending money to Kenya, here is how the top 5 stack up based on cost.

Provider	Total Cost	Exchange Rate
XE (Cheapest Option)	£30.18	172.7652 GBP to KES
Wise (Runner Up)	£53.8	173.8080 GBP to KES
Remitly (Alternative)	£82.4	170.9900 GBP to KES
HSBC (Alternative)	£118.56	169.7823 GBP to KES
RBS (Alternative)	£133.1	169.3012 GBP to KES

Go to XE

Why this matters

The Savings: Choosing XE saves you 119.26 GBP compared to Barclays, which is the most expensive of the providers we reviewed.
The "Hidden" Cost: Always check the Exchange Rate + Upfront Fee. Some providers claim "zero fees" but hide costs in the rate.
The Interbank Rate: The current true market rate is 173.808.

Example: Most banks add a markup (often ~3%) to the market rate.

If the real rate is 173.808, a bank might offer you a rate of roughly 179.02224, keeping the difference for themselves.

Finding alternative ways to transfer money to Kenya shouldn't be hard. Review our full list of cheap ways to send money to Kenya to help you with your search.

The fastest way to send money Kenya

Of the 8 providers we found for sending money to Kenya from the United Kingdom, here is how the top 5 stack up based on speed.

Provider	Estimated Time
Wise (Fastest Option)	Instant-2 Days
Remitly (Runner Up)	0-2 Days
XE (Alternative)	2-3 Days

Go to Wise

Speed comparison: banks vs digital providers

The fastest provider for transferring money to Kenya is currently Wise, taking roughly Instant-2 Days.

Why is there such a big difference in speed?

Banks (usually slower): Most banks use the SWIFT network. This system passes your money through several intermediaries—like taking a flight with 3 layovers. It typically takes 3-5 working days.
Transfer Specialists (usually faster): Companies like Wise often have their own local bank accounts in both countries. They don't "send" the money across borders; they pay out from their local reserves instantly.

If speed is your priority, avoiding traditional banks is usually the best strategy.

The best rated provider to transfer money to Kenya

Of the 8 providers we found for transferring money to Kenya, here is how the top 5 stack up based on user reviews from Trustpilot.

Provider	TrustScore	Volume
Remitly (Best Rated)	4.6 / 5 (Excellent)	99553 reviews
HSBC (Runner Up)	4.5 / 5 (Excellent)	22193 reviews
XE (Alternative)	4.4 / 5 (Excellent)	82306 reviews
Wise (Alternative)	4.3 / 5 (Excellent)	279091 reviews
Barclays (Alternative)	3.5 / 5 (Average)	15424 reviews

Go to Remitly

How to read these reviews

When choosing a provider, don't just look at the score out of 5. You should also consider the Review Volume.

The "Trust Factor":

A provider like Remitly with a score of 4.6 and 99553 reviews is generally safer than a newer company with a perfect 5.0 rating but only 10 reviews.

Exchange rate trend between GBP/KES

As with many currencies, the GBP/KES exchange rate moves over time, due to changes in supply and demand. Exchange rate fluctuations can be caused by underlying shifts in how well the economy in the United Kingdom or Kenya is doing, changes in political stability, or even simple speculation, where traders buy or sell currencies based on how they think trends are going to change.

Right now, £1 buys KSh173.808

1 GBP = 173.808 KES

Loading chart data...

Conclusion

When it comes to choosing the best provider for sending money to Kenya from the United Kingdom, it really depends on what your needs are.

The cheapest provider shown in our comparison table is XE. If the transfer time is what you're interested in, then Wise is the fastest way to transfer money to Kenya. Wise can get your money to your recipient to Kenya in Instant-2 Days.

If safety is what interests you the most when it comes to picking the best international money transfer provider to Kenya, then all the providers we listed above are regulated by different financial institutions and should be safe to send money to Kenya with.

Find the best money transfer provider

FAQs: sending money to Kenya

What details are needed to send money to Kenya?

Can I send international money transfers from the United Kingdom to Kenya for free?

When is the best time to transfer money from the United Kingdom to Kenya?

What is the best way to send large amounts of money to Kenya from the United Kingdom?

How to send large amounts of money to Kenya?

How do I know if there is an international bank transfer fee in Kenya?

How do I know if there any international money transfer limits in Kenya?

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