Best Ways To Send Money From Canada to M-Pesa in Kenya

Canada is one of the most popular destinations in North America for Kenyan immigrant workers looking for greener pastures. As a Kenyan working abroad, one of the most common challenges is finding a means to send money to loved ones back in Kenya.

Before sending money from Canada to Kenya, you must exchange Canadian dollars for Kenyan shillings, which requires a third-party service. Fortunately, there are dozens of money transfer platforms that you can use to send money from Canada to Kenya through M-Pesa, which you can compare in real time using Monito's live comparison engine below 👇

7 Best Ways to Send Money From Canada to Kenya via M-Pesa

Advances in technology have made it not only possible but very easy to send money from one end of the world to another. You can transfer money from Canada to Kenya via M-Pesa in many ways, and below, we cover seven of your best options.

1. WorldRemit

If you're looking for a fast, safe, and secure way to send money from Canada to Kenya, WorldRemit should be one of your top choices. WorldRemit is among the most popular global money transfer platforms, allowing users to send money to more than 130 destinations across the globe.

It only takes a few simple steps to send money using WorldRemit. First, you'll create an account using your email address. You can use their mobile app or official website to register your WorldRemit account.

Once your account is set up, you can initiate the transfer by selecting the recipient's country, in this case, Kenya. You'll then choose your receive method and enter the amount to be sent. Some of the receive options are cash pickup, bank transfer, and mobile transfer (M-Pesa). The fees and exchange rate will be shown to you upfront. 

You should have your receiver's details ready. The information will differ depending on the method you use to send the money. Once everything is set, you can pay for the transfer via bank transfer or using your credit/debit card.

• Average cost: $3.99 transfer fee
• Transfer limits: KES 150,000 per transaction

2. Remitly

Remitly is a US-based digital remittance service that facilitates money transfers worldwide. You can use Remitly to send money from Canada to Kenya via M-Pesa. 

While most money transfer platforms have physical locations for cash pickup, Remitly is fully digital, which helps to keep their costs low. This way, the money transfer process is much easier, more affordable, and more transparent. 

Sending money using Remitly is a simple and straightforward process. Start by creating an account for free on their official website or downloading the app. You'll then choose your delivery provider from a list of options, including M-Pesa, Airtel Money, and various banks. The options available to you depend on your recipient's location. 

Once you've chosen M-Pesa as your preferred option, you can enter your recipient's name and address, followed by your payment information. After making the payment, you can track the transfer via email and text updates from your recipient.

You can top up your Remitly account to pay for the transfer using credit/debit/prepaid cards or via bank transfer. Before completing the transfer, you'll get a detailed overview of the whole amount, including the transfer fees. 

• Average cost: Free transfers 
• Transfer limits: $2,999 in 24 hours, $10,000 in 30 days

3. Sendwave

Sendwave is a global money transfer platform that facilitates money transfers from Europe and the U.S. to countries in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. It’s an app-based company that's constantly expanding its coverage through partnerships with other services like WorldRemit. 

Kenya is one of the top destinations for users sending money with Sendwave. This is mainly because it lets you send money directly to your recipient's M-Pesa mobile wallet. You can also opt to send money to their bank account instead. 

To create your Sendwave account, all you have to do is sign up, link your debit card, and verify your identity. Once your account is in effect, you can use Sendwave for fast transfers to your friends and family in Kenya. 

Kindly note that you can only make money transfers via the app, not the website. Still, you'll be able to choose from three receiving options; cash pickup, mobile wallet, and bank account. 

• Average cost: No transfer fees
• Transfer limits: KES 70,000 per transaction and a maximum of two transactions

4. Wise

Wise is a popular foreign exchange and money transfer platform that you can use to send money to over 175 countries across the world, including Kenya. 

You can easily use Wise to send money from Canada to Kenya. Setting up a Wise account is a straightforward process. Sign up for free using your email address or Facebook account, then choose the amount you wish to transfer.

After entering the amount you want to send, you'll be shown all the fees upfront and how long it will take for the money to reach your recipient. Next, provide your recipient's details, verify your identity, and then pay for the transfer. 

You have four options to pay for the transfer; direct debit, debit card, credit card, and bank transfer. Wise charges you a percentage of the amount to be transferred or a flat fee. You'll be charged differently depending on the currency pairing. 

• Average cost: Depends on the amount you want to send.
• Transfer limits: KES 150,000 per transaction, KES 300,000 per day

5. Skrill

While Skrill is a relatively new financial platform, it's a fast and secure way to send money to over 40 destinations. Skrill has gained popularity mainly due to its competitive exchange rates and relatively low fees. Neither the sender nor the recipient has to pay for the transfer. 

You can get started on Skrill by registering your account on their website or app. As one of the digital platforms, Skrill does not have physical locations, but it's conveniently easy to send money from Canada to Kenya via M-Pesa or bank transfer.

You can deposit money into your Skrill account via bank transfer or click "Mobile Wallets" on the app. Skrill is also a virtual payment platform, so you can use it for other financial purposes like paying for goods and services.

Mobile transfers reach the recipients almost instantly, which is one of the major advantages of using Skrill. If you opt for a bank transfer instead, it may take one or two days to process. 

• Average cost: 3.99% foreign exchange fee, 1.45% withdrawal fee
• Transfer limits: KES 70,000 per transaction, KES 300,000 per day

6. Western Union

Western Union, one of the oldest legacy platforms, is a safe and secure means to send money to over 200 countries worldwide. It's one of the options you can use to send money from Canada to Kenya. 

Initially, you could only send money via bank transfer or cash pickup. You had to visit one of their agents with the cash and all applicable fees. Nowadays, you can use their website or mobile app to send money instead. 

You can now conveniently send money from your phone straight to your recipient's mobile wallet. Once you have set up the account, all you have to do is select the country and the receiving option. Aside from Mobile Wallet, you can also choose Cash Pickup or Bank Transfer. 

You can use a bank transfer, credit, or debit card to pay for the transfer. 

• Average cost: transfer fees start at $4.99
• Transfer limits: $2,500 per day

7. MoneyGram

MoneyGram is the second most extensive money transfer platform after Western Union and is a trusted service you can use to send money to over 200 countries globally. 

MoneyGram also has agents and service locations in both countries, but you can use your phone to make the transfer instead. Sign up for a MoneyGram account on their website or download their app from the App Store or Google Play Store. Once you've set up your account, you can top up via credit/debit or bank transfer. 

You can send money from Canada to recipients in Kenya via mobile transfer, cash pickup, or bank transfer. MoneyGram charges you based on the amount you're sending and the selected transfer option. 

• Average cost: 2.6% transfer fee
• Transfer limits: KES 300,000 per day

Final Thoughts

Legacy platforms and digital remittance services have made it conveniently easy to send money internationally. Today, it's incredibly easy for Kenyans living in Canada to send money to their loved ones back home.

You can choose from at least a dozen money transfer platforms based on factors like availability, ease of use, and cost. It's important to take your time to research all your options so you can choose the most convenient option for you and your recipient.