In a significant move to shed light on the impact of remittances on the national economy, the government has launched the country’s first-ever Remittances Household Survey (RHS).

The announcement, published in a government gazette on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, comes as the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), in collaboration with the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and Financial Sector Deepening Kenya (FSD Kenya), undertakes the nationwide Remittances Household Survey.

Running from July to September 2025, the survey targets households across the country that either receive or send money or in-kind support to and from relatives abroad. The goal is to gather detailed data on the amount of remittances received, the channels through which they are sent, and their overall impact on the livelihoods of Kenyans.

The launch of the survey comes at a time when remittances have emerged as one of Kenya’s leading sources of foreign exchange, outpacing traditional sectors like tourism and agriculture in annual inflows. Yet, despite their rising economic importance, there remains limited data on how these funds are utilised at the household level and the true cost of sending or receiving them—gaps that the 2025 Remittances Household Survey aims to address.

According to the KNBS, the survey seeks to gather both quantitative and qualitative data on inward and outward remittances, including the amounts sent, the channels used, associated costs, and challenges experienced by senders and recipients. It also aims to determine the main uses of the remitted funds, which range from daily consumption and school fees to investment in property and healthcare.

Selected participation

Households selected for participation will be interviewed by field personnel equipped with official identification badges. The data collected will feed into the formulation of government policies, planning frameworks, and global reporting obligations such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Statistics Act, CAP 112 of the Laws of Kenya, mandates KNBS to collect and safeguard official statistics, including remittance data. The Bureau has emphasised that all information collected will be treated with the strictest confidentiality and used strictly for statistical purposes. RHS personnel have taken an oath not to divulge any personal or identifying information.

Upon completion, the findings will be published in aggregated form on the websites of KNBS, CBK, and FSD Kenya.

The government is urging all selected households to cooperate fully with field officers, emphasising that this survey is key to shaping better policies around migration, financial inclusion, and diaspora engagement.

Findings from this groundbreaking survey are expected to offer valuable insights into Kenya’s remittance landscape, informing strategies to better support vulnerable households, lower transaction costs, and enhance the broader financial ecosystem.