Nairobi, Jan. 19 -- Cash sent home by Kenyans living and working abroad grew 1.9 percent in 2025 to $5.04 billion (Sh649.5 billion), marking the slowest annual expansion in diaspora remittances since the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis.

New data from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) shows remittance inflows rose from $4.9 billion (Sh631.9 billion) in 2024, extending a decade-long growth streak, but at a pace unseen since 2009.

The subdued growth underscores rising pressures on migrant incomes and transfer channels, even as diaspora inflows remain Kenya's largest and most stable source of foreign exchange earnings.

The latest remittance slowdown to comparable levels was in 2009, when inflows dipped 0.4 percent to $609.2 mil...