In a landmark step to better understand how remittances shape the country’s economy, the government has launched the country’s first-ever Remittances Household Survey (RHS). The initiative seeks to gather detailed insights into how families receive and use money sent by relatives living abroad.
The announcement, published in the official gazette on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, confirmed that the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), together with the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and Financial Sector Deepening Kenya (FSD Kenya), is rolling out the nationwide survey.
Running from July through September 2025, the survey will focus on households that either receive or send money or other forms of support from or to relatives living abroad. The aim is to collect in-depth data on how much money is being sent, the channels used for these transfers, and how remittances affect the daily lives and financial well-being of Kenyan families.
The initiative comes at a time when remittances have overtaken tourism and agriculture as one of Kenya’s largest sources of foreign exchange. Despite their growing economic importance, there’s still limited insight into how families use this money or the actual costs involved in sending and receiving it. The 2025 Remittances Household Survey aims to fill these gaps.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), the survey will collect both numerical and personal insights on money sent into and out of the country. It will explore the amounts transferred, the methods used, the costs involved, and the common challenges faced by both senders and recipients.
The survey also seeks to understand how households spend the funds – whether on daily needs, school fees, healthcare, or long-term investments like property.
From Diaspora to Doorstep: Officials Want Your Household Info
Field officers with official identification badges will visit selected households to conduct interviews for the survey. The information they collect will help shape government policies, support national planning, and contribute to international reporting commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), operating under the Statistics Act, CAP 112, is legally mandated to gather and protect official data – including remittance statistics. The Bureau has assured the public that all responses will be handled with the utmost confidentiality and used strictly for statistical analysis. All RHS personnel have sworn an oath not to share any personal or identifying details.
Once the survey is complete, the final report will be published in summary form on the official websites of KNBS, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), and Financial Sector Deepening Kenya (FSD Kenya).
The government is calling on all selected households to fully cooperate with field officers, stressing that the survey plays a critical role in shaping more effective policies on migration, financial inclusion, and diaspora engagement.
Officials expect this first-of-its-kind survey to provide valuable insights into Kenya’s remittance landscape. The findings will help the government and its partners design better support for vulnerable families, reduce the cost of sending money, and strengthen the country’s overall financial system.
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