Kenyan households spent Sh27.7 billion on school-related expenses for children in schools abroad in the year to May 2025, highlighting the burden families face in the pursuit of quality education abroad.
A new official survey on inward and outward remittances shows that the cash sent to scholars abroad was equivalent to 68.4 per cent of Kenya’s total remittance outflows of Sh40.5 billion in the period.
A rising number of households are sending their children to universities abroad amid concerns about the quality of education in cash-strapped and often mismanaged local institutions, and a lack of job opportunities in the Kenyan economy for graduates.
The survey that polled 4,400 households was carried out in August 2025 by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS in collaboration with the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and Financial Sector Deepening Kenya (FSD Kenya). This is the first comprehensive nationwide assessment of household remittance flows in Kenya.
The findings showed that those aged between 20 and 29 received Sh16.02 billion in cash and in-kind remittances, while the 30-39 age group received Sh16.35 billion.
Those holding secondary education before leaving Kenya received Sh20.4 billion, or 50.2 percent of total remittance outflows, indicating that the support mainly went towards catering for tertiary education needs.
“This pattern reflects the significant financial needs of young adults abroad, including education, living expenses, and initial settlement costs for students and early-career professionals. In addition to cash remittances, individuals in this age group also received a higher share of in-kind remittances, indicating support for both personal and professional requirements,” said KNBS in the report that was published on Tuesday.
Recipients in paid employment received Sh5.06 billion from relatives living in Kenya, split almost evenly between cash remittances (Sh2.38 billion) and in-kind goods (Sh2.67 billion).
In contrast, out of the Sh27.7 billion sent to students abroad, only Sh89.6 million was in non-monetary or in-kind goods such as Kenyan food items.
Those categorised as homemakers received Sh930.4 million from Kenya, while unemployed individuals seeking jobs abroad were sent Sh645.7 million, all of it in cash to help them meet daily needs.
The highest ratio of in-kind goods sent abroad went to those in self-employment, whose overall remittances of Sh815 million comprised Sh725.5 million in in-kind goods and just Sh89.5 million in cash.
In terms of destination countries for the outward remittances, Turkey and the US led with volumes of Sh10.07 billion and Sh8.26 billion respectively, followed by the UK at Sh6.27 billion, Uganda at Sh5.25 billion and Australia at Sh1.42 billion.
“The high concentration of remittances to recipients in Turkey, the US, and the United Kingdom highlights the significant educational, professional, and familial connections that drive these financial flows, while substantial transfers within the EAC emphasise the enduring importance of regional support networks,” the report added.
Overall, the inaugural report found that Kenya’s total remittance flows were higher than previously estimated, after bringing into visibility the flows transacted through informal channels and in-kind goods transfers.
Total inflows stood at Sh931.8 billion in the 12 months to May 2025, which was Sh280.6 billion higher than the Sh651.2 billion inflows that were recorded by the CBK through formal channels like banks, mobile money and remittance service providers in the period.
Some of the channels preferred by those sending money home or abroad informally include in-person delivery through self or relatives, Hawala systems or through cryptocurrencies. The main motivation for using these channels was to cut the cost of transmission, speed, and ease of access.
For those living in neighbouring countries—particularly along the Uganda and Tanzania corridors— households reported using road transporters including buses, matatus, motorcycles, and bicycles to ferry goods to their relatives in Kenya.