The cost is never just the fee

Every transfer has two costs: the stated fee and the exchange rate margin. Providers advertising zero fees usually recover it in the rate. Always compare the amount the recipient actually receives.

Routes into Kenya

From within East Africa, wallet-to-wallet transfers are usually cheapest and land in minutes. From outside Africa, licensed remittance operators and digital wallets compete closely; banks are almost always the most expensive.

What to check before you send

• The amount the recipient receives, not the fee
• Whether the recipient needs an account or can collect at an agent
• How long it actually takes, not the best case
• Whether the rate is locked when you send or when it settles

Receiving in Kenya

Most recipients want M-Pesa. Any route that ends in an M-Pesa credit works. If the recipient is rural, agent access matters more than speed.