The Central Bank of Kenya has rolled out the country’s first-ever Remittances Household Survey to gather detailed information on how Kenyan families receive and send money across borders.

The survey, which will run between July and September 2025, is being conducted in collaboration with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics and Financial Sector Deepening Kenya.

It targets specific households that either receive or send remittances, with the aim of generating more accurate and extensive data on both financial and in-kind support.

In a statement, CBK described remittance inflows as a growing pillar of Kenya’s economy.

The bank revealed that Kenyans abroad sent home a record Sh666.7 billion in 2024, accounting for nearly 4 per cent of the country’s GDP. This marked a notable rise from Sh586 billion in 2023.

Currently, the central bank gathers remittance data from authorised channels such as commercial banks, mobile money providers, and money transfer companies. However, the ongoing survey seeks to go further by capturing details from informal sources, including goods and services sent to households.

“The 2025 RHS is a critical step in improving the accuracy and depth of remittance data. It will shed light on key aspects such as the amounts sent and received, associated costs, usage patterns, and challenges faced, which will in turn help shape evidence-based policy interventions,” the statement read.

CBK said that the information will be instrumental in guiding policies to better support and safeguard remittance flows into and out of the country.

The bank has urged all selected households to cooperate with the field teams conducting the survey, emphasising the importance of the exercise in understanding the true scale and impact of remittances on Kenyan families.