Send money from the United Kingdom to Kenya (GBP to KES)

Compare today's live GBP → KES exchange rates and fees across every major provider. We show the hidden markup baked into each quote, so you can find the cheapest way to send money from the United Kingdom to Kenya — to M-Pesa or a bank account.

Quick answer: the cheapest way to send GBP to KES (Kenya) right now is Sendwave, about 169.64 KES per £1 with no transfer fee, ranked by how much actually arrives in KES, not by the headline fee.

Mid-market rate: 171.0895 KES per 1 GBP· updated Jun 28, 2026, 1:30 PM UTC

GBP to KES comparison — sending £500

Ranked by how much actually arrives, grouped by how your recipient gets paid. Mobile money is how most people receive money in Kenya.

Best rate right now

The best-value way to send money to Kenya right now is Sendwave: send £500 and your recipient gets 84,820.50 KES — an effective 169.64 KES per £1, with no transfer fee. Updated Jun 28, 2026, 1:30 PM UTC.

Mobile money payouts

Most used in Kenya

Pay out to mobile wallets in Kenya, usually within minutes.

6 providers
Provider
Rate
Fee
True cost
You receive
SendwaveBest value
M-Pesa · In minutes
169.64
Free
£4.23 (0.85%)
84,820.50 KES
SendwaveBest valueM-Pesa · In minutes
Recipient gets
84,820.50KES
Rate169.64
FeeFree
True cost£4.23 (0.85%)
WorldRemit
Mobile money · Within 5 minutes
169.64
Free
£4.23 (0.85%)
84,820.50 KES
WorldRemitMobile money · Within 5 minutes
Recipient gets
84,820.50KES
Rate169.64
FeeFree
True cost£4.23 (0.85%)
NALA
M-Pesa · In minutes
169.42
Free
£4.87 (0.97%)
84,711.80 KES
NALAM-Pesa · In minutes
Recipient gets
84,711.80KES
Rate169.42
FeeFree
True cost£4.87 (0.97%)
Wise
Bank deposit · in seconds
170.91
£7.12
£7.66 (1.53%)
84,236.15 KES
WiseBank deposit · in seconds
Recipient gets
84,236.15KES
Rate170.91
Fee£7.12
True cost£7.66 (1.53%)
Remitly
M-Pesa · In minutes
167.82
Free
£9.56 (1.91%)
83,910.00 KES
RemitlyM-Pesa · In minutes
Recipient gets
83,910.00KES
Rate167.82
FeeFree
True cost£9.56 (1.91%)
Western Union
M-Pesa · In minutes
164.62
£0.01
£18.91 (3.78%)
82,308.81 KES
Western UnionM-Pesa · In minutes
Recipient gets
82,308.81KES
Rate164.62
Fee£0.01
True cost£18.91 (3.78%)

First-transfer bonuses

New customers

Promotional first-transfer rates, for new customers only.

3 providers
Provider
Rate
Fee
True cost
You receive
WorldRemitTop bonus
Mobile money · Within 5 minutes
170.56
Free
£1.54 (0.31%)
85,281.80 KES
WorldRemitTop bonusMobile money · Within 5 minutes
Recipient gets
85,281.80KES
Rate170.56
FeeFree
True cost£1.54 (0.31%)
Sendwave
M-Pesa · In minutes
170.50
Free
£1.74 (0.35%)
85,247.64 KES
SendwaveM-Pesa · In minutes
Recipient gets
85,247.64KES
Rate170.50
FeeFree
True cost£1.74 (0.35%)
Remitly
M-Pesa · In minutes
168.66
Free
£7.10 (1.42%)
84,330.00 KES
RemitlyM-Pesa · In minutes
Recipient gets
84,330.00KES
Rate168.66
FeeFree
True cost£7.10 (1.42%)

Bank payouts

Direct deposit to a bank account in Kenya.

2 providers
Provider
Rate
Fee
True cost
You receive
InstaremBest rate
M-Pesa · Varies
169.62
Free
£4.30 (0.86%)
84,809.40 KES
InstaremBest rateM-Pesa · Varies
Recipient gets
84,809.40KES
Rate169.62
FeeFree
True cost£4.30 (0.86%)
Skrill
M-Pesa · Varies
166.75
Free
£12.68 (2.54%)
83,376.11 KES
SkrillM-Pesa · Varies
Recipient gets
83,376.11KES
Rate166.75
FeeFree
True cost£12.68 (2.54%)

Rates are indicative and last updated Jun 28, 2026, 1:30 PM UTC. Fees assume the cheapest standard bank funding; some providers add a small pay-in fee that varies by how you pay. First-transfer bonuses apply to new customers' first send only. Always verify the final exchange rate on the provider's payment page before making a transfer. See our methodology and advertiser disclosure.

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Sending money from the United Kingdom to Kenya

In Kenya, mobile money dominates: M-Pesa is used by the large majority of adults, so most recipients prefer a mobile-wallet payout that arrives in minutes over a bank deposit.

Bank transfers to Kenyan accounts are well supported too, but for everyday remittances M-Pesa is usually faster and more convenient for the person receiving the money.

When you send British Pound (GBP) to Kenya, most of the cost is the exchange-rate markup baked into the rate, not the upfront fee. RemitBeat compares the live GBP → KES rate across Wise, Remitly, Sendwave, WorldRemit, Western Union and more, benchmarks each against the mid-market rate, and ranks them by the amount that actually arrives in KES — so you can see the genuinely cheapest option rather than the one with the flashiest headline fee.

Sending money GBP to KES — your questions

What is the best rate to send money from the United Kingdom to Kenya today?+
As of the latest update, the best value provider for GBP to KES is Sendwave, with an effective rate of 169.64 KES per GBP and no transfer fee. Rates change throughout the day, so always check the live comparison before sending.
What is the mid-market GBP/KES exchange rate right now?+
The current mid-market (interbank) rate is about 171.0895 KES per GBP. This is the "real" rate before any provider markup — RemitBeat shows how far each provider's quote sits from it.
What is a hidden markup, and how much does it cost me?+
Many transfer apps advertise "$0 fee" but bake their margin into a worse exchange rate. That gap between the provider's rate and the mid-market rate is the hidden markup. RemitBeat calculates it for every quote so you can compare the true, all-in cost rather than just the headline fee.
How can I receive GBP transfers in Kenya?+
Most providers we track deliver to M-Pesa or a bank account in Kenya. The comparison groups providers by payout method — mobile money and bank — so you only compare options that support the way your recipient wants to be paid.
How does RemitBeat make money if comparison is free?+
When you click through to a provider we may earn a small affiliate commission. You pay exactly the same as going to the provider directly — the rate you see is the rate you get. This keeps the comparison free and unbiased.