Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) 2025 Remittances Household Survey Report reveals the primary channels used to send in-kind remittances to Kenya. In-kind remittances, defined as non-cash support sent by migrants and diaspora members to their families or communities back home, are heavily reliant on physical travel and transport networks.
The most common method is sending goods through other travellers, which accounts for 30.1% of the total share. This is closely followed by migrants personally carrying the items to Kenya, a channel preferred by 30.0% of senders.
Road transport operators also play a massive role in moving these non-cash supports, handling 26.8% of the remittance traffic.
Together, these three movement-based methods comprise the vast majority of how in-kind support reaches Kenyan households.
In contrast, formal and commercial delivery services see significantly lower utilization. Courier companies handle 5.8% of the in-kind remittances, while goods sent through someone already living in Kenya account for 4.1%.
Air transport operators are responsible for delivering just 2.6% of the support. The remaining 0.5% of in-kind remittances are sent through other unspecified channels.
The findings underscore a strong reliance on informal networks, personal travel, and regional road transit over institutional courier and air cargo services when diaspora members send non-cash assistance to their home country.
