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Send money from United Kingdom to Kenya(GBP → KES)
GBP
KES|Updated recentlyMid-market 173.3454Cheapest todayof 13 providers
InstaReM
Rate 171.8893 · Fee free
You send
£500
Recipient gets
KSh85,945
Affiliate link · No extra cost to you
Quick answer: The cheapest way to send money from United Kingdom to Kenya in May 2026 is InstaReM, which delivers 85,944.64 KES on a 500 GBP transfer with a fee of zero.
Last reviewed: by Awais Imran, Reviews Editor
↓
Rates are low right now
20th percentile
Based on 54 days of data (2026-03-28 to 2026-05-20)
Today's best
KSh17,189.3
InstaReM
54-day avg
1 GBP = 173.39 KES
Best rate
174.95
2026-05-09 · InstaReM
Worst rate
171.14
2026-05-18 · InstaReM
What is the cheapest way to send GBP to KES?
Sending £500 from United Kingdom to Kenya. Sorted by best value — most money received.
Source: SendMoneyCompare · Data updated every 6 hours from live provider APIs
#ProviderRateFeeRecipient gets
Rate 171.8893·Fee Free·0.84% markup
↑ 0.2% over 44dAvg: 172.73 KES (-0.5% vs avg)Range: 170.51–174.95
1
InstaReMBest value
1-3 business days0.84% markup
↑ 0.2% over 44dAvg: 172.73 KES (-0.5% vs avg)Range: 170.51–174.95
171.8893
Free
KSh85,944.64
Rate 170.2945·Fee Free·1.76% markup
Best rate 25 of 54 days
↓ 1.4% over 54dAvg: 172.88 KES (-1.5% vs avg)Range: 170.30–174.70
2
Under 3 minutes (95% of transfers)1.76% markup
Best rate 25 of 54 days
↓ 1.4% over 54dAvg: 172.88 KES (-1.5% vs avg)Range: 170.30–174.70
170.2945
Free
KSh85,147.25
Rate 170.0865·Fee Free·1.88% markup
↑ 0.3% over 44dAvg: 170.94 KES (-0.5% vs avg)Range: 168.40–173.11
3
Minutes to 3-5 days1.88% markup
↑ 0.3% over 44dAvg: 170.94 KES (-0.5% vs avg)Range: 168.40–173.11
170.0865
Free
KSh85,043.24
Rate 169.3064·Fee Free·2.33% markup
↑ 0.9% over 53dAvg: 169.12 KES (+0.1% vs avg)Range: 165.75–171.49
4
Same day to 3 business days2.33% markup
↑ 0.9% over 53dAvg: 169.12 KES (+0.1% vs avg)Range: 165.75–171.49
169.3064
Free
KSh84,653.21
Rate 169.0291·Fee Free·2.49% markup
↑ 0.8% over 53dAvg: 169.26 KES (-0.1% vs avg)Range: 166.47–171.31
5
Instant to 3 business days2.49% markup
↑ 0.8% over 53dAvg: 169.26 KES (-0.1% vs avg)Range: 166.47–171.31
169.0291
Free
KSh84,514.54
Rate 169.6358·Fee £2.99·2.14% markup
↑ 0.5% over 53dAvg: 169.86 KES (-0.1% vs avg)Range: 167.33–171.89
6
Minutes to 5 days2.14% markup
↑ 0.5% over 53dAvg: 169.86 KES (-0.1% vs avg)Range: 167.33–171.89
169.6358
£2.99
KSh84,310.68
Rate 168.4397·Fee Free·2.83% markup
↑ 0.7% over 53dAvg: 168.86 KES (-0.3% vs avg)Range: 166.05–170.90
7
Same day to 3 business days2.83% markup
↑ 0.7% over 53dAvg: 168.86 KES (-0.3% vs avg)Range: 166.05–170.90
168.4397
Free
KSh84,219.85
Rate 168.3704·Fee Free·2.87% markup
↑ 0.5% over 53dAvg: 169.23 KES (-0.5% vs avg)Range: 166.52–171.52
8
2-5 business days2.87% markup
↑ 0.5% over 53dAvg: 169.23 KES (-0.5% vs avg)Range: 166.52–171.52
168.3704
Free
KSh84,185.18
Rate 168.3704·Fee Free·2.87% markup
↑ 0.5% over 53dAvg: 169.23 KES (-0.5% vs avg)Range: 166.52–171.52
9
2-5 business days2.87% markup
↑ 0.5% over 53dAvg: 169.23 KES (-0.5% vs avg)Range: 166.52–171.52
168.3704
Free
KSh84,185.18
Rate 165.5795·Fee £2.99·4.48% markup
↑ 0.1% over 53dAvg: 166.04 KES (-0.3% vs avg)Range: 163.29–168.29
10
Minutes to 3 days4.48% markup
↑ 0.1% over 53dAvg: 166.04 KES (-0.3% vs avg)Range: 163.29–168.29
165.5795
£2.99
KSh82,294.67
Rate 172.1840·Fee £31.49·0.67% markup
Rate 173.2587·Fee £53.55·0.05% markup
Rate 171.9586·Fee Free·0.80% markup
Some links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This does not affect our rankings, which are based on real transfer data. Editorial policy
Compare the cheapest ways to send money from United Kingdom to Kenya. We compare fees, exchange rates, and transfer speeds from 15+ providers so you get the most KES for your £.
Money transfers from United Kingdom to Kenya are a vital lifeline for families and businesses. With dozens of providers competing for this corridor, rates and fees vary widely. Specialist money transfer companies often beat bank rates by 2–4%, potentially saving you hundreds of GBP per year. Use our comparison to find today's best deal.
Which provider offers the best GBP to KES rate?
InstaReM
4.0Exchange rate
171.8893
Fee
Free
Recipient gets
KSh85,944.64
Speed
1-3 business days
Which provider is best for each transfer type?
Different providers excel at different things. Here's who's best for each use case on the United Kingdom to Kenya route.
Cheapest transfer
InstaReM
Delivers the most KES for your money
Fastest transfer
TapTap Send
Delivers in Under 3 minutes (95% of transfers)
Cash pickup
Remitly
Widest cash pickup network
Bank transfer
InstaReM
Best rate for bank deposit to Kenya
How to send money to Kenya
Sending money to Kenya is straightforward with the right provider. Here's how it works in 3 simple steps.
Step 1
Enter your transfer details
Choose how much GBP you want to send, compare providers above, and pick the one offering the best KES amount for your transfer to Kenya.
Step 2
Add your recipient
Enter your recipient's details in Kenya — you'll need their bank account number. Most providers verify details instantly.
Step 3
Send & track your transfer
Pay using bank transfer, debit card, or credit card. Track your money in real-time until it arrives — m-pesa typically takes minutes.
What you need to send money to Kenya
Make sure you have these details from your recipient before starting your transfer.
Full name
Recipient's name as registered with their bank or M-Pesa account
Bank account number
OptionalKenyan bank account number (varies by bank)
M-Pesa number
OptionalSafaricom mobile number registered for M-Pesa (format: +254...)
Example: +254712345678
Bank name
OptionalName of the receiving bank if using bank deposit
Note: Kenya is a mobile money-first country. Most recipients prefer M-Pesa over bank transfers. For M-Pesa, you only need the recipient's Safaricom mobile number.
Transfer examples: GBP to KES
See how much your recipient would get for common transfer amounts.
Send £500
ProviderFeeReceives
InstaReM
171.89 · 1-3 business days
TapTap Send
170.29 · Under 3 minutes (95% of transfers)
Remitly
170.09 · Minutes to 3-5 days
Barclays
169.31 · Same day to 3 business days
Skrill
169.03 · Instant to 3 business days
Western Union
169.64 · Minutes to 5 days
ProviderFeeRateReceivesSpeed
InstaReMFree171.89KSh85,9451-3 business days
TapTap SendFree170.29KSh85,147Under 3 minutes (95% of transfers)
RemitlyFree170.09KSh85,043Minutes to 3-5 days
BarclaysFree169.31KSh84,653Same day to 3 business days
SkrillFree169.03KSh84,515Instant to 3 business days
Western Union£2.99169.64KSh84,311Minutes to 5 days
Send £1,000
ProviderFeeReceives
InstaReM
171.89 · 1-3 business days
TapTap Send
170.29 · Under 3 minutes (95% of transfers)
Remitly
170.09 · Minutes to 3-5 days
HSBC
169.67 · Same day to 3 business days
Barclays
169.31 · Same day to 3 business days
Western Union
169.64 · Minutes to 5 days
ProviderFeeRateReceivesSpeed
InstaReMFree171.89KSh171,8891-3 business days
TapTap SendFree170.29KSh170,294Under 3 minutes (95% of transfers)
RemitlyFree170.09KSh170,086Minutes to 3-5 days
HSBCFree169.67KSh169,670Same day to 3 business days
BarclaysFree169.31KSh169,306Same day to 3 business days
Western Union£2.99169.64KSh169,129Minutes to 5 days
Send £5,000
ProviderFeeReceives
InstaReM
171.89 · 1-3 business days
Wise
173.26 · Instant to 2 days
XE
172.18 · 1-4 business days
TapTap Send
170.29 · Under 3 minutes (95% of transfers)
Western Union
169.64 · Minutes to 5 days
Barclays
169.31 · Same day to 3 business days
ProviderFeeRateReceivesSpeed
InstaReMFree171.89KSh859,4461-3 business days
Wise£53.55173.26KSh857,015Instant to 2 days
XE£31.49172.18KSh855,4981-4 business days
TapTap SendFree170.29KSh851,472Under 3 minutes (95% of transfers)
Western Union£2.99169.64KSh847,672Minutes to 5 days
BarclaysFree169.31KSh846,532Same day to 3 business days
How much does it cost to send money from United Kingdom to Kenya?
Transfer fees from United Kingdom to Kenya vary by provider. Specialist services charge £0–10 per transfer, while banks charge £25–50 plus a 2–5% exchange rate markup. The exchange rate markup is usually the bigger cost — always compare the total KES your recipient receives, not just the advertised fee.
Understanding the total cost
The true cost of a money transfer has two components:
Transfer fee
The upfront charge — typically £0–£10 with specialist providers.
Exchange rate markup
The hidden cost — the difference between the provider's rate and the mid-market rate (173.3454).
Ways to send money to Kenya
Choose how you want to pay for your transfer. Each payment method has different costs and speeds.
M-Pesa dominates financial transactions in Kenya — it's used for everything from receiving remittances to paying bills and shopping. It's faster, cheaper, and more accessible than bank transfers for most Kenyans.
Bank Transfer
Low costSpeed: 1–3 business days
Usually the cheapest option — lowest fees and no card processing charges
Debit Card
Medium costSpeed: Minutes to hours
Fast and convenient — small card processing fee applies
Google Pay
Medium costSpeed: Minutes to hours
Convenient mobile payment — linked card fees apply
Apple Pay
Medium costSpeed: Minutes to hours
Convenient mobile payment — linked card fees apply
Credit Card
Higher costSpeed: Minutes to hours
Fastest option but highest fees — card issuer may charge cash advance fee
Cash
Medium costSpeed: Varies
Pay cash at an agent location — available at select providers
How can my recipient receive money in Kenya?
Your recipient in Kenya can receive money through these delivery methods. The best option depends on their location and preferences.
M-Pesa
Minutes
Kenya's dominant mobile money platform with 30M+ active users. By far the most popular way to receive money in Kenya.
WiseRemitlyWorldRemitWestern Union
Bank Deposit
1–2 business days
Transfer to Kenyan bank accounts including Equity Bank, KCB, and Co-operative Bank.
WiseRemitlyWorldRemitWestern Union
Cash Pickup
Minutes
Collect cash from agent locations and bank branches across Kenya.
Western UnionMoneyGram
Airtime Top-up
Minutes
Send airtime directly to a Kenyan mobile number.
WorldRemit
What are the transfer limits and regulations for Kenya?
Important rules and requirements to know before sending money to Kenya.
Regulatory body
Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)
Inbound transfer limits
No restriction on receiving remittances
Documentation you may need
- Sender's government-issued ID
- Recipient's Kenyan National ID for cash pickups
Important things to know
- M-Pesa has transaction limits: KES 150,000 per transaction and KES 300,000 daily for standard accounts.
- Kenya does not charge tax on incoming remittances.
- M-Pesa is interoperable with Kenyan bank accounts — recipients can easily move money between M-Pesa and their bank.
How long does it take to send money to Kenya?
Most transfers from United Kingdom to Kenya arrive within 1–2 business days with specialist providers. Bank wires take 3–5 business days. Some providers offer instant or same-day delivery to Kenya for a small premium.
FastExpress delivery
- TapTap SendUnder 3 minutes (95% of transfers)
- RemitlyMinutes to 3-5 days
- SkrillInstant to 3 business days
- Western UnionMinutes to 5 days
- Xoom (PayPal)Minutes to 3 days
Standard delivery
- InstaReM1-3 business days
- BarclaysSame day to 3 business days
- HSBCSame day to 3 business days
- Royal Bank of Scotland2-5 business days
- NatWest2-5 business days
Popular banks in Kenya
These are the most commonly used banks for receiving international transfers in Kenya.
BankSWIFT/BICNotes
Equity Bank
EABORINKXXX
KCB Bank (Kenya Commercial Bank)
KCBLKENAXX
Co-operative Bank
KCOOKENA
Absa Bank Kenya
BABORINKXXX
Standard Chartered Kenya
SCBLKENAXX
GBP to KES Exchange Rate History
Daily best exchange rates from top providers over the last 54 days. Rates shown are for sending $100.
| Date | TapTap Send | __mid Market__ | Western Union | Royal Bank of Scotland | Skrill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trend | |||||
| May 20 | 170.3000✓ | 170.3000✓ | 169.6441 | 168.3666 | 169.0322 |
| May 19 | 170.3000✓ | 170.3000✓ | 169.8233 | 169.0940 | 169.0477 |
| May 18 | 170.3000✓ | 170.3000✓ | 167.3301 | 166.6803 | 167.4592 |
| May 17 | 170.3000✓ | 170.3000✓ | 168.1894 | 167.5363 | 167.6446 |
| May 16 | 172.0000 | 173.5000✓ | 168.1894 | 167.5363 | 167.6446 |
| May 15 | 173.5000✓ | 172.4000 | 168.7149 | 167.9593 | 167.8351 |
| May 14 | 173.6000✓ | 172.4000 | 170.4183 | 169.6551 | 169.5351 |
| May 13 | 174.7000✓ | 172.4000 | 170.8884 | 169.8670 | 170.1695 |
| May 12 | 174.7000✓ | 172.4000 | 171.3576 | 170.5584 | 170.6534 |
| May 11 | 174.7000✓ | 172.4000 | 171.3830 | 171.0170 | 171.2107 |
| May 10 | 174.7000✓ | 172.4000 | 171.8867 | 171.5196 | 171.2879 |
| May 9 | 174.7000✓ | 172.4000 | 171.8867 | 171.5196 | 171.3113 |
| May 8 | 174.7000✓ | 172.4000 | 170.8779 | 170.1920 | 170.2298 |
| May 7 | 174.4000✓ | 172.4000 | 171.4760 | 170.7299 | 171.0841 |
| May 6 | 174.4000✓ | 172.4000 | 171.1901 | 170.8108 | 170.4871 |
| May 5 | 174.0000✓ | 172.4000 | — | — | — |
| May 4 | 173.7000✓ | 172.4000 | 171.1972 | 171.1712 | 170.7165 |
| May 3 | 173.7000✓ | 172.4000 | 171.1494 | 171.1234 | 170.8417 |
| May 2 | 173.7000✓ | 172.4000 | 171.1494 | 171.1234 | 170.8417 |
| May 1 | 173.7000✓ | 172.4000 | 171.0943 | 171.1081 | 170.9950 |
| Apr 30 | 173.6000✓ | 172.4000 | 169.3689 | 169.6681 | 169.4768 |
| Apr 29 | 173.0000✓ | 172.4000 | 169.9813 | 169.8240 | 169.7405 |
| Apr 28 | 173.0000✓ | 172.4000 | 170.0017 | 170.0906 | 170.0908 |
| Apr 27 | 173.0000✓ | 172.4000 | 170.1933 | 170.3658 | 170.5521 |
| Apr 26 | 173.0000✓ | 172.4000 | 170.2419 | 170.4145 | 170.2175 |
| Apr 25 | 173.3000✓ | 172.4000 | 170.2419 | 170.4145 | 170.2175 |
| Apr 24 | 173.0000✓ | 172.4000 | 169.9368 | 169.4771 | 169.3491 |
| Apr 23 | 174.1000✓ | 172.4000 | 170.2874 | 169.7309 | 169.6989 |
| Apr 22 | 173.6000✓ | 172.4000 | 170.2473 | 169.7547 | 169.6216 |
| Apr 21 | 174.1000✓ | 172.4000 | 170.7152 | 170.0378 | 170.0943 |
| Apr 20 | 173.8400✓ | 172.4000 | 170.2570 | 169.3772 | 169.5488 |
| Apr 19 | 173.8400✓ | 172.4000 | 170.4631 | 169.5823 | 169.9710 |
| Apr 18 | 173.5000✓ | 172.4000 | 170.4631 | 169.5823 | 169.9710 |
| Apr 17 | 173.5000✓ | 172.4000 | 170.2468 | 169.9562 | 169.9862 |
| Apr 16 | 174.1000✓ | 172.4000 | 170.8275 | 170.6247 | 170.6346 |
| Apr 15 | 174.2000✓ | 172.4000 | 170.9853 | 170.9975 | 170.8025 |
| Apr 14 | 173.5000✓ | 172.4000 | 170.7861 | 170.4662 | 169.9037 |
| Apr 13 | 172.0000 | 172.4000✓ | 168.9324 | 168.4625 | 168.4606 |
| Apr 12 | 173.1000✓ | 172.4000 | 169.7006 | 169.2286 | 169.2550 |
| Apr 11 | 173.1000✓ | 172.4000 | 169.7006 | 169.2286 | 169.2550 |
| Apr 10 | 173.8000✓ | 172.4000 | 169.6789 | 168.9000 | 168.8329 |
| Apr 9 | 173.5000✓ | 172.4000 | 169.4579 | 168.7157 | 168.6450 |
| Apr 8 | 170.5000 | 172.4000✓ | 170.2519 | 169.5269 | 169.3014 |
| Apr 7 | 170.5000 | 172.4000✓ | 168.5965 | 166.6764 | 167.1832 |
| Apr 6 | 170.5000 | 172.4000✓ | 168.5093 | 166.5902 | 167.1782 |
| Apr 5 | 170.5000 | 172.4000✓ | 168.0007 | 166.6060 | 166.5743 |
| Apr 4 | 171.1000 | 172.4000✓ | 168.0007 | 166.6060 | 166.5743 |
| Apr 3 | 171.1000 | 172.4000✓ | 167.9174 | 166.5234 | 166.4670 |
| Apr 2 | 171.1000 | 172.4000✓ | 168.3539 | 167.2114 | 167.2764 |
| Apr 1 | 171.6000 | 172.4000✓ | 169.3274 | 168.8069 | 168.1300 |
| Mar 31 | 171.5000 | 172.4000✓ | 168.2864 | 167.3517 | 167.5130 |
| Mar 30 | 171.0000 | 172.4000✓ | 167.5999 | 166.5349 | 166.8750 |
| Mar 29 | 171.6000 | 172.4000✓ | 168.1771 | 166.8647 | 167.3325 |
| Mar 28 | 172.8000✓ | 171.0000 | 168.7724 | 167.4616 | 167.7760 |
Common questions about sending money from United Kingdom to Kenya
What is the cheapest way to send money from United Kingdom to Kenya?
The cheapest option changes daily based on exchange rates. Use our comparison table above to see today's rates from every provider. Specialist services like Wise, Remitly, and OFX consistently offer better value than banks.
How long does it take to send money from United Kingdom to Kenya?
Most specialist providers deliver to Kenya within 1–2 business days. Some offer instant delivery for certain payment methods. Bank wires typically take 3–5 business days.
How much does it cost to send £500 from United Kingdom to Kenya?
Costs depend on the provider's fee and exchange rate markup. Compare all providers in our table above to see exactly how much KES your recipient would receive from a £500 transfer today.
Can I send money from United Kingdom to Kenya online?
Yes, all the providers we compare support online transfers from United Kingdom to Kenya. Most also offer mobile apps. You can typically pay by bank transfer, debit card, or credit card.
Is it better to use a bank or a money transfer service to send money to Kenya?
Money transfer services are almost always cheaper. Banks typically charge £25–50 per wire plus a 2–5% exchange rate markup. Specialist providers charge £0–10 with markups under 1%, saving you significantly on every transfer to Kenya.
Everything about sending money to Kenya
Recipient requirements, delivery methods, regulations, popular banks, and more.
Other routes to Kenya
Popular corridors
Top provider reviews
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