Summary (TL;DR)
Kenya is one of Africa's most accessible international remittance destinations, thanks to its M-Pesa mobile money ecosystem, which serves over 66.2 million customers across East Africa. The most cost-effective and comprehensive services for sending money to Kenya include Wise (mid-market rate, direct bank deposits), WorldRemit (M-Pesa, Airtel Money, bank, and cash pickup), Remitly (no fees above USD 1,000, UPI and M-Pesa support), Taptap Send (zero upfront fees, instant mobile money), and Xoom (minute-fast bank and mobile wallet delivery). BOSS Money offers a particularly strong proposition for US-to-M-Pesa transfers. KCB Bank Kenya has formally partnered with Western Union, MoneyGram, WorldRemit, and Ria for institutional remittance routing.
Kenya's Position in the Global Remittance Market
Kenya is one of sub-Saharan Africa's most significant remittance-receiving economies. The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has reported consistent growth in diaspora remittances over recent years, with the Kenyan diaspora concentrated in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Australia, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. According to CBK data, the value of digital money transfers in Kenya has expanded substantially, reflecting both the growth of the diaspora and the increasing shift from traditional wire transfers to lower-cost digital platforms.
Kenya's fintech leadership anchored by M-Pesa, which was launched by Safaricom and Vodacom in 2007 — has created a remittance receiving environment that is technically more advanced than many higher-income countries. By 2024, M-Pesa served more than 66.2 million customers across Kenya, Tanzania, the DRC, Ethiopia, Egypt, Ghana, Lesotho, and Mozambique. For international senders, M-Pesa integration is the single most important technical feature to evaluate when selecting a transfer service for Kenya.
Why M-Pesa Defines the Kenya Transfer Experience
M-Pesa is not simply a mobile payment platform in Kenya it is the primary financial infrastructure for a significant proportion of the population. The ability to receive funds directly into an M-Pesa wallet, rather than requiring a bank account, is particularly important for recipients in smaller towns and rural areas. M-Pesa's global reach has expanded through partnerships with international money transfer services, and the M-Pesa Global service enables registered users to send international transfers to bank accounts, mobile numbers, or Western Union locations worldwide. For international senders, the key question is whether their chosen transfer service can deliver directly to M-Pesa, eliminating the need for the recipient to travel to a bank branch or agent location.
Key Criteria for Choosing a Transfer Service for Kenya
The most relevant evaluation factors for the Kenya corridor are M-Pesa and Airtel Money integration (enabling direct mobile wallet delivery), total transfer cost including the exchange rate margin and any flat fees, transfer speed (with particular attention to whether delivery is instant or requires banking processing windows), the breadth of payment methods accepted from the sender, the maximum transfer limits and the process for increasing limits, and the provider's regulatory compliance status in the sender's country. For businesses sending payroll or supplier payments to Kenya, platforms offering bulk payment capabilities and API integration are also material considerations.
Wise
Wise is a strong option for direct bank account transfers to Kenya, offering the mid-market exchange rate with transparent fees. The Wise mobile app allows users to track transfers in real time and save recipient details for repeat transfers. While Wise does not currently support direct M-Pesa delivery for all corridors, its bank account deposits to major Kenyan banks are well-regarded for reliability and speed. Wise is available for transfers from over 80 countries and provides 24/7 customer support through its app.
WorldRemit
WorldRemit has built particularly strong coverage of the Kenya corridor, supporting bank transfers, M-Pesa delivery, Airtel Money, cash pickup at major locations, and airtime top-ups. The service is well-established for diaspora sending from the UK, US, Europe, and Australia. WorldRemit's regulatory status as a licensed and FCA-authorised money transfer service provides confidence in its compliance and fund security. No WorldRemit account is required by the recipient. For bank transfers, WorldRemit needs the recipient's name, bank name, account number, and branch details.
Remitly
Remitly supports money transfers to Kenya with M-Pesa and Airtel Money delivery options alongside cash pickup and bank deposit. No transfer fee applies for amounts above USD 1,000. Remitly's delivery guarantee — a fee refund if the transfer does not arrive by the promised time — provides meaningful consumer protection. The platform allows sending limits to be increased by providing additional identity documentation. Remitly supports multiple payment methods on the sender's side including bank transfer and debit or credit card.
Taptap Send
Taptap Send has emerged as a strong option for zero-fee international transfers to Kenya. The platform charges no upfront fees and delivers directly to mobile money accounts including M-Pesa, making more of each transfer available to the recipient. A sample transfer of GBP 100 via Taptap Send has been shown to deliver approximately 15,013 KES (at the time of research) with an effective rate of 1 GBP to 150.1345 KES. Delivery to mobile money accounts is typically instant or within minutes, making Taptap Send one of the fastest no-fee options for Kenya.
Xoom (PayPal)
Xoom offers fast and secure money transfers to Kenya, with delivery to M-Pesa and Airtel Money wallets typically within minutes, and bank deposits that can be completed in minutes when funded by eligible debit cards. Xoom supports cash pickup at Kenya Commercial Bank and Kenya Post Office Savings Bank among other locations. US PayPal account holders can initiate Xoom transfers using existing PayPal payment methods. Xoom's transfers are not subject to the 2026 US remittance excise tax.
BOSS Money
BOSS Money is a strong option for US-to-M-Pesa transfers, requiring only the recipient's name and phone number to deliver funds to an M-Pesa account. The first two transfers are free of charge for new users, and debit card transfers beyond that incur fees starting from USD 0 on certain corridors. BOSS Money delivers to M-Pesa within minutes and also supports bank deposit, direct to debit card, and mobile wallet delivery. The platform is particularly well-suited for US-based Kenyan diaspora members sending to non-tech-savvy recipients who may not have a formal bank account.
TransferGo
TransferGo offers free first two transfers to Kenya, with instant delivery arriving within 30 minutes and Standard transfers completing within one working day. Card and bank account funding options are available. TransferGo does not currently support mobile wallet delivery to M-Pesa for Kenyan recipients, limiting its reach for recipients without a bank account or debit card.
Western Union
Western Union offers direct M-Pesa delivery, bank transfers, and cash pickup to Kenya from over 200 countries. Senders can remit up to USD 10,000 per day to Kenya bank accounts, M-Pesa, or cash pickup agent locations. KCB Bank Kenya has a formal institutional partnership with Western Union, providing a reliable infrastructure for Western Union cash pickup across the country. Cash-funded US Western Union transfers are subject to the 2026 federal remittance excise tax.
Payoneer
Payoneer serves freelancers, online sellers, SMBs, and businesses receiving international payments from global marketplaces. It is not optimised for family remittances but is an important platform for professional payments to Kenya. Transfers to a Payoneer account from another Payoneer account take approximately two hours; bank account payouts take two to five business days. Payoneer is particularly relevant for Kenyan professionals receiving payment from platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, Amazon, or global advertising networks.
What Information Do You Need to Send Money to Kenya?
For bank account deposits, the sender requires the recipient's full name as it appears on their bank records, the recipient's address, the bank name, and the account number. For mobile money delivery to M-Pesa or Airtel Money, the recipient's full name and registered mobile number are typically sufficient. For cash pickup, the sender provides recipient name and address, and the recipient presents a valid photo ID and the transfer reference number at the agent location.
5 FAQs
What is the best way to send money to M-Pesa in Kenya from abroad?
BOSS Money, Remitly, WorldRemit, Taptap Send, and Xoom all support direct M-Pesa delivery for international transfers to Kenya. BOSS Money requires only the recipient's name and mobile number and delivers within minutes. Taptap Send charges no upfront fees. Remitly offers a delivery guarantee. Xoom is backed by PayPal's security infrastructure. The best option depends on your sending country, amount, and urgency.
How much does it cost to send money to Kenya internationally?
Transfer costs for Kenya vary significantly by provider. Taptap Send charges zero upfront fees on mobile money transfers. Wise applies the mid-market rate with a small percentage fee. Western Union's online transfer cost to Kenya averages competitively when using the digital channel. Traditional bank wire transfers are the most expensive option. Always use a comparison tool such as Monito to identify the lowest-cost provider for your specific sending corridor and amount.
How long does an international transfer to Kenya take?
Mobile money transfers to M-Pesa or Airtel Money are typically instant or within minutes using Remitly Express, Taptap Send, WorldRemit, BOSS Money, or Xoom. Bank account deposits generally take two to five business days depending on the provider and the recipient's bank. TransferGo instant delivery reaches Kenya within 30 minutes. Standard bank transfer options at most providers complete within one to three business days.
Can I send money to Kenya without the recipient having a bank account?
Yes. Kenya's M-Pesa ecosystem means that most Kenyan adults can receive international funds via mobile wallet without a formal bank account. Services including WorldRemit, Remitly, BOSS Money, Taptap Send, and Xoom all support M-Pesa delivery. For recipients without mobile money registration, cash pickup at Western Union, MoneyGram, or KCB Bank agent locations is an alternative, requiring only a government-issued ID and the transfer reference number.
Is it safe to use digital money transfer apps for Kenya?
Reputable international money transfer apps operating in the Kenya corridor are regulated by financial authorities in their respective home countries, such as the FCA in the UK, FinCEN in the US, or MAS in Singapore. Leading providers including Wise, WorldRemit, Remitly, and Xoom implement encryption, two-factor authentication, and fraud monitoring to protect transfers. Always verify that your chosen provider holds appropriate licences before initiating a transfer, and confirm the recipient details carefully before confirming.
Sources
Wise – Send Money to Kenya: https://wise.com/gb/send-money/send-money-to-kenya
WorldRemit – Send Money to Kenya: https://www.worldremit.com/en/kenya
BOSS Money – M-PESA International Money Transfer Guide 2026: https://www.bossmoney.com/en-us/blog/m-pesa-international-money-transfer
Kenyan Diaspora Market – 10 Best Ways to Send Money to Kenya: https://www.kenyandiasporamarket.com/send-money-to-kenya/
TransferGo – Send Money to Kenya: https://www.transfergo.com/send-money-to-kenya
Xoom – Send Money to Kenya: https://www.xoom.com/kenya/send-money
KCB Kenya – International Money Transfer Services: https://ke.kcbgroup.com/ways-of-banking/international-money-transfer-services
Statrys – 8 Best International Money Transfer Apps 2026: https://statrys.com/blog/best-international-money-transfer-apps
