Send Money to Kenya from South Africa | Best ZAR-KES Exchange Rates

Best companies for ZAR/KES transfers
3 of 3 providers Last updated on 4 September 2026 This page updates weekly. We collect, store, and analyze ZAR/KES exchange rates from our comparisons. This page updates weekly. We collect, store, and analyze ZAR/KES exchange rates from our comparisons.
Based on 130,000 ZAR transfer Best companies for ZAR/KES transfers All money transfer offers for ZAR/KES transfers, sorted by most KES received. The first two offers may be sponsored promotions. Some offers here pay us a commission. All money transfer offers for ZAR/KES transfers, sorted by most KES received. The first two offers may be sponsored promotions. Some offers here pay us a commission. Sort Cheapest
Promoted Key Currency Pay via Bank transfer	Fee R 0,00 1 ZAR = 8.0717 KES +0.25% vs mid-market	Recipient gets KES 1 049 323,49 Minutes - 3 days
4 reviews Personal account managerReceive to bank account
Ways to receive money in Kenya with Key Currency when paying by bank transfer. MethodFee & ratesRecipient gets Bank depositMinutes - 3 days Free1 ZAR = 8.0717 KES KES 1 049 323,49You payR 130 000,00
Promoted Regency FX Pay via Bank transfer	Fee R 0,00 1 ZAR = 8.0701 KES +0.27% vs mid-market	Recipient gets KES 1 049 113,10 Minutes - 24 hours
9 reviews Personal account managerReceive to bank accountProfessional, personal service
Ways to receive money in Kenya with Regency FX when paying by bank transfer. MethodFee & ratesRecipient gets Bank depositMinutes - 24 hours Free1 ZAR = 8.0701 KES KES 1 049 113,10You payR 130 000,00
Run a live search Showing top South Africa to Kenya deals for 130,000 ZAR. Do a live search with your exact amount for today's best rates.
Run a live search Showing companies that send from a business account. Run a business search to get live ZAR to KES rates.
Run a live search These companies offer multi-currency accounts for spending KES. We suggest doing a live search based on how much ZAR you're planning to spend in Kenya.
Run a live search These are managed services with real human support for large ZAR transfers. Click the link and update the transfer amount to get the best deal.
Exclusive: Special Rate for 1st Transfer Key Currency Pay via Bank transfer	Fee R 0,00 1 ZAR = 8.0717 KES +0.25% vs mid-market	Recipient gets KES 1 049 323,49 Minutes - 3 days
4 reviews CheapestUsing Bank transfer with Key Currency is the cheapest way to send money to Kenya from South Africa. Using Bank transfer with Key Currency is the cheapest way to send money to Kenya from South Africa. Personal account managerReceive to bank account
Ways to receive money in Kenya with Key Currency when paying by bank transfer. MethodFee & ratesRecipient gets Bank depositMinutes - 3 days Free1 ZAR = 8.0717 KES KES 1 049 323,49You payR 130 000,00
Exclusive: First Transfer Deal Regency FX Pay via Bank transfer	Fee R 0,00 1 ZAR = 8.0701 KES +0.27% vs mid-market	Recipient gets KES 1 049 113,10 Minutes - 24 hours
9 reviews FastestRegency FX with Bank transfer deposit is the fastest way to send ZAR to Kenya. Regency FX with Bank transfer deposit is the fastest way to send ZAR to Kenya. Personal account managerReceive to bank accountProfessional, personal service
Ways to receive money in Kenya with Regency FX when paying by bank transfer. MethodFee & ratesRecipient gets Bank depositMinutes - 24 hours Free1 ZAR = 8.0701 KES KES 1 049 113,10You payR 130 000,00
Only available via Mobile App WorldRemit Pay via Debit card	Fee R 0,00 1 ZAR = 7.7696 KES +4.06% vs mid-market	Recipient gets KES 1 010 051,90 Minutes - 2 days
13 reviews RecommendedBased on our editorial reviews, WorldRemit is our recommended way to send money from South Africa to Kenya. Based on our editorial reviews, WorldRemit is our recommended way to send money from South Africa to Kenya. Receive to bank account or cash pickup
Ways to receive money in Kenya with WorldRemit when paying by debit card. MethodFee & ratesRecipient gets Mobile moneyMinutes - 2 days Free1 ZAR = 7.7696 KES KES 1 010 051,90You payR 130 000,00
How Our Results Work Mid-market rate: 1 ZAR = 8.091949 KES Updates every 60 minutes.

Why compare

ZAR/KES exchange rate

Best ways to pay & receive

Transfer speed

Historic ZAR/KES options

How to send money from South Africa to Kenya

Pick a company

For a one-off transfer to Kenya, I suggest picking the cheapest option which is Key Currency.

On a 130,000 ZAR transfer, Key Currency delivers the most KES.

The best option will change depending on how much you actually send, so I suggest to get the best ZAR/KES rate.

Fund your transfer

You have 2 ways to pay, including bank transfer and debit card.

PayShap is the quickest way to fund your transfer, though it caps at R50,000 a transaction.

Above that you're on a normal EFT, which is same-day or next-day rather than instant.

Verify and send

First time round you'll need your ID and proof of address.

Anything beyond your yearly allowance needs a tax number and clearance from SARS first, so check which side of that line you're on.

Ways to send money from South Africa to

3 companies send money from South Africa to Kenya.

Frequent transfers from South Africa

Online transfers

Apps and online services are best for recurring transfers to Kenya.

WorldRemit is the cheapest option.

It will get you 1,010,051.9 KES on a R130,000 transfer.

For fast transfers, WorldRemit is a good option, it will deliver KES in minutes - 2 days.

Most companies will let you fund your transfer by EFT, and will ask for your FICA details.

Emigration and large transfers

Currency brokers

Currency brokers are great for large transfers from South Africa to Kenya.

They have no fees and add a markup on top of ZAR/KES rate.

Key Currency charges an exchange-rate markup of around 0.25% and no fees.

Also, don’t forget about the R2 million limits on transfers from South Africa (more below).

For business payments abroad

Global accounts

Global accounts like Airwallex, Veem or Payoneer help South African businesses make recurring payments to suppliers and contractors in Kenya.

Ways to fund ZAR and receive KES in Kenya

With Key Currency, paying by bank transfer and receiving through bank deposit is the cheapest combination. Sending R130,000 gives your recipient 1,049,323.49 KES.

You can fund the transfer with bank transfer and debit card.

To receive KES in Kenya, your recipient can use bank deposit and mobile money.

1

Bank transfer Bank deposit

You pay R130,000.00

KSh1,049,323

Cheapest
2

Debit card Mobile money

You pay R130,000.00

KSh1,010,052

-KSh39,272

Consider this when sending ZAR to Kenya

South African exchange control dictates how much you can move and which paperwork you need. The exchange-rate margin then decides whether a bank, an online money transfer company, or forex specialist is cheaper.

Compare ZAR/KES transfer options

For a ZAR 130,000 transfer to Kenya, the current best options are:

The cheapest option is Key Currency, funded by bank transfer with bank deposit for the payout. Your recipient gets 1,049,323.49 KES, which is 0.02% more than the next best option.

The fastest option is Regency FX, using the same bank transfer and bank deposit chain. Your recipient gets 1,049,113.1 KES in minutes - 24 hours.

R2 million allowance

South African residents aged 18 or older can use the single discretionary allowance to transfer up to R2 million per calendar year for legal purposes abroad without a SARS tax-compliance PIN.

A further foreign capital allowance of up to R10 million is available with an Approval International Transfer PIN from SARS.

Amounts above the allowances need specific approval through an authorised dealer.

The allowances cover more than money transfers.

A foreign card spending and other qualifying use can reduce what remains, so check your year-to-date total before making payments.

The SARB Financial Surveillance guidance explains how the allowances can be used.

Get the purpose code right

Every legal cross-border payment in rand passes through an authorised dealer and carries a balance-of-payments purpose code.

A bank, transfer company or forex specialist may handle the form, but you are still responsible for giving the right reason.

Keep any relevant documents on hand, such as the property sale agreement, emigration documents, tuition invoice, proof of savings, etc.

For an emigration transfer, a specialist service can be useful because the AIT paperwork matters as much as the rate.

A gift can create donations tax

For the 2026/27 tax year, a natural person can make up to R150,000 of donations each year before donations tax applies.

The donor generally pays 20% on taxable donations up to the first R30 million of cumulative taxable gifts.

Payments between spouses and reasonable maintenance payments can be exempt.

A large family transfer should be classified before sending, rather than treated as tax-free because the recipient lives abroad.

Only use authorised companies

Search the company or its FSP number in the FSCA register.

Never move a transfer to crypto or a personal account to bypass exchange control.

Keep the quote, purpose-code confirmation and proof of payment until the recipient has the money.

Live ZAR-KES Exchange Rate

Finding the best ZAR to KES rate

The exchange rate changes the final KES amount, even when the transfer fee stays the same. Check the recent range before converting your ZAR.

Mid-market rate:1 ZAR = 8.095145 KES

How we analyse the market

Every rand that leaves South Africa goes through an authorised dealer, and every company here is FSCA-registered.

We track 3 of them on ZAR to Kenya, comparing rates, fees and the pay-in and payout options in real time on live comparisons.

Nothing appears without passing our review.

Any tax information is for general guidance only and does not constitute tax advice. Speak to a qualified tax adviser about your circumstances.

Send money from South Africa