Kenya’s Foreign Minister Reports Diaspora Remittances Hit KSh1 Trillion by November 2025

Kenya has recorded a historic surge in diaspora remittances, with citizens abroad sending home over KSh1 trillion by November 2025, marking the highest inflow in the nation’s history.

Foreign Minister and Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, revealed the figure during a quarterly foreign affairs briefing in Nairobi, emphasizing its significant contribution to the country’s economy and currency stability.

Data from the Central Bank of Kenya shows the 2025 total represents a sharp increase from KSh651.7 billion in 2024 and KSh543.3 billion in 2023. Mudavadi credited the rise to strengthened bilateral labour agreements and the expansion of digital employment platforms under the government’s Ajira programme.

“Kenyans in the diaspora have collectively remitted over one trillion shillings as of November 2025,” Mudavadi stated. “This inflow plays a vital role in supporting economic growth and stabilizing our currency.”

He highlighted that Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Jordan remain key destinations for Kenyan workers, with Saudi Arabia employing over 200,000 citizens and Qatar hosting more than 70,000. Ongoing negotiations aim to broaden these opportunities further.

Mudavadi also cautioned against risks tied to overseas employment. He revealed that more than 200 Kenyans have joined Russian forces in Ukraine since 2022, and warned of human trafficking and cybercrime networks in Southeast Asia, where some repatriated Kenyans had received cybercrime training.

The minister advised prospective overseas workers to use only licensed recruitment agencies and the National Employment Authority (NEA) to avoid exploitation. Kenya is also expanding its diplomatic presence in Southeast Asia, including a new embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam, to better protect its nationals abroad.