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Currency converter for Kenya

Convert KES against major diaspora currencies. Mid-market rates as of May 2026. For actual transfers, working rates are typically 0.5 to 2% off mid-market.

US Dollar

13,000

Kenyan Shilling

1 USD = 130.00 KES

Indicative mid-market rates as of May 2026. For actual transfers, use a remittance service which will quote the working rate (typically 0.5 to 2% off mid-market). See our diaspora hub for working corridors.

What "mid-market rate" means

Mid-market rate is the midpoint between the buy and sell rates that banks trade at with each other. It is the "fair" rate. When you transfer money, the remittance provider applies a margin to the mid-market rate. The margin is how they make money. Wise charges roughly 0.5% above mid-market, traditional banks 2 to 4%.

Top Kenya remittance corridors

  • USD → KES: largest corridor, US diaspora to family
  • GBP → KES: UK diaspora, second-largest
  • EUR → KES: EU diaspora (Germany, Netherlands, France)
  • AED → KES: UAE diaspora, third-largest by volume
  • AUD → KES: growing Australian diaspora
  • CAD → KES: Canadian diaspora
  • SAR → KES: Saudi diaspora workers
  • ZAR → KES: regional Africa

See our diaspora hub for the cheapest provider on each corridor.

For diaspora users

If you are sending money home, do not just convert at mid-market and expect that amount to land. Use our diaspora send calculator which factors in provider fees and the actual exchange rate offered.

Frequently asked

How often are these rates updated?

Rates are static, updated monthly to reflect mid-market levels. For real-time precision use a service that quotes live rates. For most planning purposes, the static rates are within 1 to 2% of live.

Why is my actual transfer rate different?

Remittance providers apply a margin to the mid-market rate. For Wise the margin is around 0.5%; for traditional banks it can exceed 4%. Always check the actual quoted rate before sending.

Can I use this for paying USD invoices?

For estimation, yes. For actual settlement, use the rate your bank or payment provider quotes at the moment of conversion.

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