Send money from the US to Kenya
See today's USD→KES rate, compare every service on fees, speed and delivery, and see what your recipient keeps after cash-out fees and taxes — before you send.
Today's USD→KES exchange rate
This is the reference interbank rate — the starting point before each service's fee and margin.
Interbank rate updated 19 Jul 00:00 UTC (less than 1h ago)
Calculate for your amount:
The US–Kenya route is overwhelmingly an M-Pesa route — almost everything received is paid straight into Safaricom's wallet rather than a bank account. The shilling floats against the dollar, so the live rate is worth comparing alongside the fee for your exact amount.
Sending from the US: funding, speed & rules
From the US, you fund a transfer by ACH bank debit (cheapest, 1–3 business days) or by debit/credit card (instant, a little pricier). Zelle and Venmo do not cross borders, so a licensed remittance app or a bank wire is the route. Card-funded sends arrive fastest; ACH-funded ones are cheapest.
US money transmitters are licensed state by state and registered with FinCEN under the Bank Secrecy Act, so reputable apps verify your identity at signup. The Kenya diaspora in the US is large and concentrated in Houston, Atlanta, Maryland and the Bronx, and tends to combine regular monthly support with one-off lump sums for school fees and emergencies.
Our verdict: the best way to send the US to Kenya
Best for the lowest total cost to Kenya
LemFi and Sendwave: paying from a linked bank account is the cheapest route but takes a day or two to settle, while a card pays on the spot for a small premium. The apps that waive the up-front fee and keep the tightest rate margin net the most, especially as it arrives on the one wallet nearly everyone uses, ready to spend immediately.
Best for speed to M-Pesa
Sendwave, LemFi and Remitly's Express tier: a card-funded send clears in minutes, and it arrives on the one wallet nearly everyone uses, ready to spend immediately — so a send can complete end to end in minutes.
Best for large transfers and rate transparency
Wise: on a big transfer the day-long settling wait barely matters — the exchange-rate margin decides everything.
Best for cash pickup / a recipient without a wallet
WorldRemit and Western Union: few recipients need cash pickup since the wallet is near-universal, but their agent networks pay out cash if your recipient has no wallet.
Best for Kenya wallet support
Almost all the listed services deliver to M-Pesa, the dominant wallet; Sendwave and LemFi specialise in instant M-Pesa delivery.
In plain terms: Because paying from a linked bank account is the cheapest route but takes a day or two to settle, the right pick from the US to Kenya mostly comes down to your amount: LemFi and Sendwave for the lowest cost, Wise when the FX margin dominates on a large send, WorldRemit and Western Union if your family has no wallet. Either way, it arrives on the one wallet nearly everyone uses, ready to spend immediately, and the recipient's only cost is the M-Pesa withdrawal fee when they cash out.
Comparing the services: fees, rates, speed & delivery
| Service | Fee model | Rate | Speed | Delivery | Best for | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | Transparent percentage fee, shown upfront | Mid-market (interbank) rate | Often within ~24h | Bank deposit; some mobile money | Transparency and larger sums | Go to Wise → |
| Remitly | Low or zero fee by speed tier | Competitive; promo rates for new users | Instant (Express) to a few days (Economy) | Bank, cash pickup, mobile money | Flexible delivery and cash pickup | Go to Remitly → |
| WorldRemit | Very low; often free to some destinations | Competitive margin over mid-market | Instant to about an hour | Bank, cash, mobile money, airtime | Multi-route reach and an established network | Go to WorldRemit → |
| Sendwave | Usually zero up-front fee | Earns on the rate margin (~1-3% over mid-market) | Instant to minutes | Mobile money focused | Ultra-fast mobile money delivery | Go to Sendwave → |
| LemFi | Typically $0 on core African routes | Small markup over mid-market | Instant to minutes | Bank and mobile money | Fast zero-fee app-to-app, African focus | Go to LemFi → |
| Taptap Send | Small flat or percentage fee by route | Solid rates | Minutes | Bank and mobile money | Low-cost app transfers | Go to Taptap Send → |
| Western Union | Higher and variable fee | Wider rate margin | Flexible, including instant cash | Huge agent network: cash, bank, mobile | Cash pickup reach | Go to Western Union → |
Some provider links are referral links, marked sponsored. They never change the figures or the order shown.
Which services reach Kenya's mobile wallets
In Kenya, mobile money means M-Pesa — the table shows what each service actually reaches: wallet, bank account or cash pickup.
| Service | Mobile money M-Pesa | Bank | Cash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Remitly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| WorldRemit | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sendwave | ✓ | — | — |
| LemFi | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Taptap Send | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Western Union | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
What your recipient actually gets in Kenya
Cash-out / withdrawal cost
The recipient's cost comes if they withdraw cash at an M-Pesa agent: Safaricom charges a withdrawal fee by amount band, and excise duty applies on fees. Keeping the money on M-Pesa to pay (Lipa na M-Pesa, bills) avoids the withdrawal fee.
Receiving to a bank vs a wallet
In Kenya, the overwhelming majority of transfers land on M-Pesa, Safaricom's dominant mobile wallet. Several services deposit straight to M-Pesa; otherwise the recipient can receive into a bank account.
This is the angle the senders' pages skip: the headline rate is only part of the story; what your family actually keeps also depends on the receive channel and the cash-out.
How to send: methods, limits & safety
Funding and delivering the send
From the US, total cost starts with funding: an ACH pull is cheapest but takes 1–3 days; a debit card is instant but charged. The mobile-money leg into Kenya is then near-instant at the mobile-first apps; bank deposit suits larger sums. Pick the funding method by whether you prioritise price (ACH) or speed (card).
Transfer limits & KYC
In the US, signup requires photo ID and often an SSN or proof of address under FinCEN rules. Caps rise with your verification tier and vary by state under the transmitter's licence. For a first large send to Kenya, expect enhanced verification.
Other routes to Kenya
Frequently asked questions
How do I fund it and which app from the US to Kenya?
How long does a transfer to Kenya take?
Is money received taxed in Kenya?
Bottom line
Bottom line: a card-funded send clears in minutes and it arrives on the one wallet nearly everyone uses, ready to spend immediately. Compare LemFi and Sendwave first on the final amount received, switch to Wise for large sums, and WorldRemit and Western Union if cash pickup is needed. On funding, remember: ACH for price, card for speed.
We describe each service's published model (fees, rates, speed, delivery) from public information, without reproducing live quotes or marketing copy. Always check the final fee and rate in the app before sending.