Sending business payments from the US to Kenya
A US company pays a Kenyan supplier or contractor by SWIFT wire in US dollars to the company's USD account at a Kenyan bank, through the bank's US correspondent. Kenya repealed its exchange control laws in 1993, and exporters may keep all their proceeds in foreign currency accounts, so a dollar payment is simple to receive; foreign exchange deals above $10,000 need documents showing their purpose. This guide covers the details to collect, the rules, timing, documents and fees.
- Kenya repealed all exchange control laws in 1993, and exporters may keep all their export proceeds in foreign currency accounts with local banks or convert them, according to the US International Trade Administration.
- Buying or selling foreign exchange up to $10,000 is unrestricted in Kenya, while larger amounts need documents showing the purpose, mainly for Central Bank of Kenya records.
- Prime Bank Kenya's general tariff lists an inward telegraphic transfer at Kshs 700, and ABC Bank Kenya's September 2025 tariff lists inward electronic funds transfers as free.
- The Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, 2025 took effect on 4 November 2025, with the Central Bank of Kenya and the Capital Markets Authority as licensing regulators.
- Helm does not currently provide USD account details to companies based in Kenya; this page covers paying a Kenyan business from abroad.
Details to collect from your recipient in Kenya
Kenyan banks receive dollars through correspondent banks abroad, and the ITA notes that most major Kenyan banks have correspondent relationships in London and the United States. Ask the supplier for its bank's standard settlement instructions for US dollars and copy them exactly, including the correspondent and the Kenyan bank's account number there.
| Detail | What to ask for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficiary name | The registered name, exactly as on the account | Name mismatches lead to queries |
| Account number | The USD account number, not the shilling account | A dollar wire to a shilling account is converted |
| Bank name, branch and SWIFT code | 8 or 11 characters | Routes the wire |
| Correspondent bank | The US bank the Kenyan bank uses for dollars, its SWIFT code and the Kenyan bank's account number there | A missing or wrong correspondent is the most common reason for delay |
| Reference | Invoice number, and for exports the contract or shipment reference | Supports the documents needed above $10,000 |
Sources: International Trade Administration, Kenya Country Commercial Guide; field list compiled by the Helm Editorial Team. As published on 29 October 2026.
USD or shillings: what Kenya's rules say
Among African markets, Kenya is unusually open on foreign currency. There is no deadline to bring dollars home and no duty to sell them for shillings, so the choice of currency is commercial; a Kenyan exporter that imports inputs will often prefer dollars. The US dollar to shilling page covers the currency.
| Rule | What it says | What it means for your payment |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange controls | Repealed in 1993; exchange rate fully market-determined | No central bank approval is needed for your payment |
| Export proceeds | Exporters may retain all proceeds in foreign currency accounts with local banks, or convert them | The supplier can keep your dollars |
| Deals up to $10,000 | Unrestricted | Small payments need no supporting papers |
| Deals above $10,000 | Documentation of the purpose is required, mainly for CBK records | Send the invoice or contract with large payments |
| FATF status | Kenya was grey listed by the Financial Action Task Force in 2024 | Expect source-of-funds questions on large or first payments |
Source: International Trade Administration, Kenya Country Commercial Guide, Trade Financing (last published 5 July 2024). As published on 29 October 2026.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) sets anti-money laundering standards, and grey listing means a country is under increased monitoring. For the recipient's view, see how Kenyan businesses receive USD.
Rails and arrival times to Kenya
A dollar wire settles in the United States on Fedwire, which runs from 9:00 p.m. ET on the previous day to 7:00 p.m. ET on weekdays, with a 6:45 p.m. ET deadline for customer transfers. Nairobi is 7 hours ahead of New York in the US summer and 8 hours ahead in the US winter, so a wire sent on a New York afternoon reaches Kenya after banks close.
| Route | What the recipient receives | Timing, as published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SWIFT wire in USD to a USD account | US dollars | Swift reported in August 2023 that 89% of payments on its network reached the recipient's bank within an hour; crediting depends on the number of correspondents | The standard route |
| SWIFT wire in USD to a shilling account | Shillings, converted by the bank | Credited on a Kenyan business day | The bank sets the rate |
| Letter of credit or documentary collection | US dollars against documents | On presentation of documents | Runs bank to bank |
Sources: Federal Reserve Financial Services, Fedwire operating hours; Swift, 22 August 2023. As published on 29 October 2026.
Each extra correspondent in the chain adds processing and screening time. Paying through the correspondent the Kenyan bank names, rather than one your own bank picks, avoids an extra hop.
Documents, screening and why payments to Kenya are held
For any receipt or conversion above $10,000, the Kenyan bank needs documents showing the purpose, so attach the invoice number to every payment and make sure the supplier has the contract ready. A large first payment from a new payer is the case most likely to draw questions. Stablecoin providers in Kenya now need licenses under the VASP Act 2025, so keep supplier payments in the banking channel.
Screen before you pay: OFAC's guidance is that every US person, US-incorporated companies and their foreign branches included, must comply with US sanctions, so check the recipient and its bank against OFAC's lists before the first payment (OFAC FAQ 11).
| Problem | What happens | How to prevent it |
|---|---|---|
| Missing or wrong correspondent bank | Delayed or returned | Copy the bank's standard settlement instructions |
| Dollars sent to the shilling account | Converted at the bank's rate | Ask for the USD account number |
| Large payment without documents | Held until the purpose is documented | Send the invoice or contract |
| Name differs from the account | Queried or returned | Use the registered name exactly |
| Wire sent as SHA | Arrives short of the invoice | Use OUR for large invoices |
Sources: International Trade Administration; Central Bank of Kenya, 18 November 2025; Helm Editorial Team. As published on 29 October 2026.
Costs: SHA, OUR and Helm's fees for payments to Kenya
Kenyan banks publish their own tariffs: Prime Bank Kenya lists an inward telegraphic transfer at Kshs 700, with excise duty on its charges, and ABC Bank Kenya lists inward electronic funds transfers as free. A nil inward charge does not mean the full invoice arrives, because on SHA terms intermediaries deduct their fees on the way. Agree OUR for large invoices. For account options in Kenya, see USD business accounts in Kenya.
Helm is a financial technology company, not a bank. Its US dollar account services are provided by Bridge Building, Inc. (NMLS ID 2450917), a licensed money transmitter, with customer funds held at Lead Bank. Helm sends payments to suppliers abroad by SWIFT and by local rails in the recipient's currency where available, confirmed by your account manager, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm.
Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm each payment. See how Helm pricing works.
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How do I send a business payment from the US to Kenya?
Send a SWIFT wire in US dollars to the supplier's USD account at its Kenyan bank, using the bank's standard settlement instructions, including the US correspondent and the Kenyan bank's account number there, and quote the invoice number.
Does Kenya have exchange controls?
No. The US International Trade Administration states that Kenya repealed all exchange control laws in 1993 and that exporters may keep all their export proceeds in foreign currency accounts with local banks.
Is there a limit on payments to Kenya?
There is no cap on receiving dollars. Foreign exchange deals up to $10,000 are unrestricted, and larger amounts need documentation of the purpose, mainly for Central Bank of Kenya records.
How much do Kenyan banks charge to receive a wire?
Each bank sets its own tariff. Prime Bank Kenya lists an inward telegraphic transfer at Kshs 700, and ABC Bank Kenya lists inward electronic funds transfers as free.
How long does a wire from the US to Kenya take?
The dollars settle in the US on Fedwire and are credited on a Kenyan business day, depending on the number of correspondent banks in the chain. Nairobi is 7 or 8 hours ahead of New York.
What does Helm charge to send money to Kenya?
Helm agrees pricing with each business in writing before the account opens, and shows the rate, the fee and the expected arrival before you confirm each payment. Helm does not provide USD account details to companies based in Kenya.
References
- International Trade Administration: Kenya Country Commercial Guide, Trade Financing
- Central Bank of Kenya: Public notice on the Virtual Assets Service Providers Act 2025 (18 November 2025)
- Prime Bank Kenya: General Tariff (January 2025)
- ABC Bank Kenya: Tariff Guide, updated September 2025
- Federal Reserve Financial Services: Fedwire Funds Service operating hours
- Swift: Cross-border payments on Swift exceed the G20's processing speed target (22 August 2023)
- Office of Foreign Assets Control: FAQ 11, Who must comply with OFAC sanctions?
This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.