A new national survey shows that most money sent from abroad to Kenyan households is primarily used to meet basic consumption needs, with food and household goods accounting for the largest share of spending.
The report, 2025 Remittances Household Survey (2025 RHS), was conducted by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) in collaboration with the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and Financial Sector Deepening Trust Kenya (FSDKenya).
According to the report, 73.1 per cent of respondents said they used cash remittances on food and household goods, making it the most common use of money received from abroad.
“This indicates the critical role remittances play in sustaining basic consumption and cushioning families against economic shocks,” the report noted.
Education emerged as the second most common use of remittances, with 31.4 per cent of respondents reporting spending on school-related costs. Medical expenses followed at 23.9 per cent, while clothing accounted for 19.8 per cent.
Other uses included rent and household utilities (9.3 per cent), ceremonies such as funerals and weddings (8.8 per cent), farming activities (8 per cent), debt repayment (3.1 per cent), construction (2.6 per cent), and investment in real estate (2.2 per cent).
The survey also highlighted notable differences in how male and female recipients allocate remittance funds.
Women were more likely to spend remittances on food and household goods at 78.6 per cent compared to 66.7 per cent of men. Female recipients also reported higher spending on clothing (26.2 per cent versus 12.4 per cent), rent and utilities (10.5 per cent versus 8.0 per cent), and ceremonies such as funerals and weddings (11.0 per cent versus 6.2 per cent).
In contrast, men reported higher spending in some productive and essential categories. Education spending stood at 36.1 per cent among male recipients compared to 27.2 per cent among females.
Medical expenses were also slightly higher among men at 25.2 per cent compared to 22.8 per cent for women, while farming-related spending was 9.9 per cent for men versus 6.4 per cent for women.
Across other categories such as travel, machinery, financial assets, donations and SACCO-related payments, usage remained below 1 per cent, with minimal variation between men and women.
The report shows that only a small proportion of remittances are directed toward environmentally friendly investments, with just 3.6 per cent of recipients reporting such usage.
Among green-related uses, solar-powered equipment was the most common at 6.9 per cent, followed by tree planting at 5.3 per cent.
Water conservation and management, as well as energy-efficient cooking stoves, were both reported at 2.8 per cent. Investment in biogas systems was the least common, recorded at about 1 per cent.
The survey also finds that decisions on how remittances are used are largely made within recipient households.
Recipients themselves accounted for 48.9 per cent of spending decisions, followed by household heads at 32.3 per cent. Senders influenced 15.8 per cent of decisions, often where funds were sent for specific purposes.
Other household members played a smaller role, with spouses accounting for 2.1 per cent, children 0.5 per cent, parents 0.3 per cent, and siblings 0.2 per cent.
The report stated that control over remittance spending significantly influences how the funds are used, with implications for financial inclusion, investment behaviour, and whether remittances are channelled toward long-term or productive uses.
The survey covered all 47 counties and targeted individuals who had sent or received remittances within 12 months preceding the survey period (June 2024 to May 2025).
