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KES to USD today: the CBK rate, and what you will actually get

The Central Bank of Kenya's daily indicative rate, read from CBK, with a plain warning about the rate your bank or M-PESA will give.

JN
by Reviewed by David Wachira 4 min read Updated 25 October 2026

Central Bank of Kenya indicative rate, posted 23 October 2026

1 US dollar = KSh 129.89

So KSh 1 is about USD 0.0077. Read from the CBK website on this refresh.

The shilling against the dollar, pound and euro

CBK mean indicative rate, KSh per one unit, posted 23 October 2026.
CurrencyKSh per unitOne shilling buys
US dollar (USD)129.890.0077
British pound (GBP)173.580.0058
Euro (EUR)145.340.0069

Shillings to dollars at the CBK rate

ShillingsUS dollars at CBK's rate
KSh 1,000USD 7.70
KSh 10,000USD 76.99
KSh 50,000USD 384.94
KSh 100,000USD 769.88

Before any provider margin or fee. For other amounts and currencies, use the currency converter.

The market rate right now

CBK posts once a day, at the open of trade. The market keeps moving after that. This is the mid-market rate from our live feed, refreshed every six hours. It is also not a rate any provider will give you.

1 US Dollar = KSh 129.84

Why your rate is lower

  • The margin. Every provider buys low and sells high. The gap between its rate and CBK's is its margin.
  • The fee. Some providers charge a fixed or percentage fee on top of the margin. A low fee can hide a poor rate.
  • The direction. Buying dollars costs more shillings than selling them, so the rate depends on which way your money is going.
  • The timing. CBK's figure is from the open of trade on the day it was posted, and CBK prints that date next to it. Check the date before you rely on the number.

Sending or receiving money

If you are sending money to Kenya, compare what lands in KSh, not the headline rate. Our send money to Kenya guide and the diaspora hub compare providers on the amount received. For a quick estimate, the currency converter does any pair.

Frequently asked questions

What is the CBK exchange rate today?

The Central Bank of Kenya's indicative rate posted on 23 October 2026 is KSh 129.89 to one US dollar. CBK posts a new figure each trading day at the open of trade.

Will my bank or M-PESA give me the CBK rate?

No. CBK says its figure is the average of the buying and selling rates of the main market participants. Banks, M-PESA and transfer apps set their own rates and add a margin, and some charge a fee on top. Check the rate and fee shown before you confirm.

How many dollars is KSh 1,000 today?

At CBK's indicative rate of 129.89, KSh 1,000 is about USD 7.70. What you actually receive will be less once the provider's rate and fees apply.

Where does CBK publish the rate?

On the Central Bank of Kenya website: the Daily KES Exchange Rates box on the home page, and the Foreign Exchange Rates page, which also has yearly downloadable datasets.

Sources

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