🇰🇪 → 🇿🇲
Send Money from Kenya to Zambia
M-Pesa Global (Safaricom) → MTN MoMo Zambia / Airtel Money
Today's rate
Updated 5 Sept 2026, 15:00 UTC
1 ZMW = 6.8 KES
Both currencies vs the US dollar
KES official
1 USD = 129.39 KES
ZMW official
1 USD = 19.11 ZMW
KSh1,000 = K148
1 ZMW = 6.77 KES · derived from the two USD legs
Interbank rate updated 5 Sept 15:00 UTC (less than 1h ago) · interbank mid-market
Why it costs more than the fee: KES and ZMW both price through the US dollar — there is no deep direct KES/ZMW market. So the route's true cost includes each currency's spread to USD: you can lose a little on BOTH conversions, not just on the visible transfer fee. Compare the USD-anchored rates above, not only the headline fee.
Rates & fees in this route
🧾 Doing business on this route? Create a fee-aware invoice
Bill in ZMW with the KES equivalent at today's rate, and see the real mobile-money cash-out cost - free, no signup.
How much are you sending?
KES
Enter an amount above to see fees and what your recipient gets
Rate updated: 5 Sept 2026, 15:00 UTC · Indicative rate
KES send tiers - capped at KES 70,000
| Send amount (KES) | Fee (KES) | Receive ~ (ZMW) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 100 | 0 | 15 |
| 101 – 500 | 7 | 74 |
| 501 – 1,000 | 13 | 147 |
| 1,001 – 1,500 | 23 | 221 |
| 1,501 – 2,500 | 33 | 368 |
| 2,501 – 3,500 | 53 | 515 |
| 3,501 – 5,000 | 57 | 735 |
| 5,001 – 7,500 | 78 | 1,103 |
| 7,501 – 10,000 | 90 | 1,470 |
| 10,001 – 15,000 | 100 | 2,205 |
| 15,001 – 20,000 | 105 | 2,940 |
| 20,001 – 35,000 | 108 | 5,145 |
| 35,001 – 50,000 | 108 | 7,350 |
| 50,001 – 70,000 | 110 | 10,290 |
How to send from Kenya to Zambia
- Dial
*840# or M-Pesa App → Globalor open the M-Pesa Global (Safaricom) app. - Select "International Transfer" and choose Zambia.
- Enter the recipient's mobile money number with country code.
- Enter the amount in KES. The recipient receives ZMW at the prevailing rate.
- Confirm with your PIN. Settlement is typically instant.
Key fact: M-Pesa Global expanded to Zambia in 2023, connecting Kenya diaspora with Zambian MTN MoMo and Airtel Money wallets.
Free to receive: Receiving on MTN MoMo Zambia / Airtel Money is FREE — no charges to the recipient.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to send money from Kenya to Zambia by mobile money?+
Fees mirror domestic Kenya M-Pesa send rates. Max KES 70,000 per transaction.
What is the M-Pesa Global limit for Kenya→Zambia transfers?+
Per-transaction cap: KES 70,000. Higher daily or monthly limits may apply depending on KYC tier.
How long does it take to send money from Kenya to Zambia via mobile money?+
Typically minutes — M-Pesa Global, TerraPay, or shared MTN MoMo network routing settle mobile-to-mobile in near real time.
Does the recipient pay any fees to receive money from Kenya via mobile money?+
No. Receiving on MTN MoMo Zambia / Airtel Money is free for the recipient.
What is the current KES/ZMW exchange rate?+
Today: 1 KES ≈ 0.1470 ZMW. Updated 5 Sept 2026, 15:00 UTC.