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US data-analysis group Pew Research Center says that Kenyans in the diaspora sent home an estimated Sh200 billion ($2 billion) in 2017.
Pew used statistics developed by the World Bank to determine the amount sent to Kenya by citizens living and working abroad.
“The total amount of money sent is likely much larger than current estimates because only funds sent through formal channels such as banks are included,” the Pew Center says.
"Untracked sums may be especially large in the case of Sub-Saharan Africa because only 40 percent of people in the region use formal financial services," Pew adds.
Kenyans in the United Kingdom sent the lion's share of the Sh200 billion, with their remittances in the period under review standing at $663 million.
Kenyans living and working in the US come in second with $584 million while Tanzania is third with $143 million.
Canada ($123 million) is fourth followed by Uganda ($107 million), Australia ($75 million), and South Africa ($51 million).
Kenya is among four Sub-Saharan Africa countries that received the highest diaspora remittances in 2017.
Nigerians in the diaspora ($22 billion) sent the highest amount followed by Ghana and Senegal, each receiving about $2.2 billion in remittances.
In total, Sub-Saharan Africa received a total of $41 billion in 2017 from the diaspora, a 10 percent growth from the previous year and the record annual sum so far recorded by the World Bank.
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@mteja only 2million kenyan pay the damm taxes n we except roads,electricity,security to b perfect.If majority kenyans pay their taxes delightly,honestly,voluntarily without being pushed or cheat n our stupid leaders used it wisely then our country can go very far but majority we complain n don't pay taxes or don't help those who r in need to make a difference.
I wonder what this means in term of who is sending what. Does anyone know how many Kenyans are in the UK, US, TZ and the other countries mentioned. I don't know why but I just assumed there are more Kenyans in the US. Maybe they are not sending a much or maybe the pound is so much stronger. They also mention that these remittances are from official channels only, I wonder what other channels are used.
Just curious; where do all these millions go to? Are they the same our leaders keep siphoning away, to the same diaspora banks? smh