Kenya loses Sh22bn in US diaspora cash on Trump tax

The new US levy took effect on January 1, raising the cost of transferring money for millions of migrants, including Kenyans working in America.

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The amount of money sent home by Kenyans living and working in the United States dropped by nearly Sh22 billion in the first half of 2026, as the fallout from President Donald Trump’s tax policies and the economic shocks of the Iran conflict took its toll.

New Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) data shows remittances from the US fell 12.6 percent to $1.178 billion (Sh152.50 billion) in the six months to June 2026, down from $1.348 billion (Sh174.50 billion) a year earlier.

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Note: The results are not exact but very close to the actual.