Why Govt Is Visiting These Houses For 2 Months

The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has announced plans to carry out a remittances survey between July and September 2025.

In a notice issued on Tuesday, July 29, KNBS revealed that the exercise—dubbed the 2025 Remittances Household Survey (RHS)—will be the first of its kind and will focus on households that either send or receive money from abroad.

The survey is being undertaken in partnership with the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and Financial Sector Deepening Kenya (FSD Kenya).

"The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), in collaboration with the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and Financial Sector Deepening Kenya (FSD Kenya), is conducting the first-ever Remittances Household Survey (RHS) from July to September 2025.

KNBS Director General Macdonald Obudho launches the report on Wednesday, October 18, 2023. /KNBS

"Remittances represent international transfers in monetary (cash), and non-monetary (non-cash/in-kind) form sent by family members, friends and relatives living abroad to households in Kenya (inward remittances) or sent by households in Kenya to family members, friends and relatives living abroad (outward remittances)," the notice read.

KNBS noted that remittances may be sent through formal means like banks, couriers, money transfer services, and mobile money platforms, or through informal methods such as physically transporting cash across borders.

The agency also stated that trained field staff will be deployed to sampled households nationwide during the survey period.

"The 2025 RHS Field Personnel will visit selected households during the survey period, which will be conducted between July and September 2025. The Field Personnel will have identification badges. Given the importance of this exercise, we appeal to the selected households to cooperate and support the survey field staff," the notice further read.

KNBS outlined that the survey aims to gain deeper insights into the volume, nature, and utilisation of remittance flows, both inbound and outbound.

Further, it will gather both qualitative and quantitative data to enhance national statistics used for planning, research, and policymaking, particularly in areas that support remittance activity.

The exercise will focus on collecting details about cash and in-kind remittances, the methods used to send them, transaction costs, and any obstacles encountered.

It also seeks to understand how recipients use the funds, the impact on their well-being, and the barriers they face in the remittance process, with the goal of informing policy improvements that strengthen the remittances sector in Kenya.

The survey is expected to yield national-level estimates on both financial and non-cash remittances entering and leaving the country.

The results will contribute to the compilation of Balance of Payments statistics, track progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and support evidence-based policy decisions.

KNBS assured the public that all information gathered will remain confidential and used strictly for statistical purposes, with all survey personnel bound by confidentiality agreements.

Once finalised, the findings will be published in summary form and shared on the official websites of KNBS, the Central Bank of Kenya, and FSD Kenya.

KNBS officials while conducting a past door-to-door survey. /NAIROBI LEO