Kenya Forex Trading

Forex Trading in Kenya has recently become popular among its residents. Kenya is considered to be one of the largest and most productive economies in Africa which results in emerging of Forex brokers and the growth of Kenyan traders. Yet, it is still important to be well-informed about Forex trading in Kenya, regulations, and requirements to know which brokers are safe to invest and trade with. 

Forex Platform in Kenya

The forex market is legal in Kenya. The forex market operates under the oversight of the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), which is the regulatory body responsible for ensuring that all forex brokers adhere to strict rules and regulations to protect investors.

  • To legally operate in Kenya, forex brokers must obtain a license from the CMA, maintain minimum capital requirements, segregate clients’ funds from their own operational funds, contribute to an investor compensation fund, and comply with anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) regulations, among other requirements.
  • For the traders, it is essential to choose a forex broker or platform that is regulated by the CMA to ensure safe and secure trading environment, other Brokers regulated in US or Europe may restrict oopening of the accounts for Kenya Traders
  • Kenyan traders can always choose to trade with international forex brokers, which are widely available now. However, it is important to exercise caution when selecting a broker outside of Kenya and choose only those that hold additional Top-tier licenses for better ssafety applied (i.e. FCA, CySEC, etc.)

For more information on Forex Market visit Wikipedia.

Kenya Trading ProsKenya Trading Cons
Growing market with High Liquidity Limited market size
International Brokers availableLimited financial instruments
Favorable tax conditionsLack of compensation
Low transaction costsMany Scam Brokers target Kenya
International exposure

Kenya Forex Regulations

The main regulatory body in Kenya is the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), formed in 1989 and responsible for supervising, licensing, and monitoring Forex business in the country. All the Forex brokers in Kenya are recommended to get licensed by the CMA.

In order to get more information on broker’s licensing or check the records in the regulators register, check the CMA Website. We also recommend following their official Twitter account for important regulatory updates — @CMAKenya.

Also, take a look at our important notes regarding Kenyan regulations and Forex Trading Conditions:

  • The CMA is a reliable and respected regulator that abides by strict rules and guarantees investors’ protection. There is a downside though, the CMA does not have a compensation scheme for the traders. 
  • The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) also plays a vital role in the forex market by setting monetary policy, managing foreign reserves, and overseeing the stability of the Kenyan shilling (KES).
  • CMA in Kenya does not impose a maximum leverage limit on licensed forex brokers. As a result, some top brokers in the country provide leverages as high as 400:1 for forex trading in Kenya which is considered highly risky too
  • Before diving into forex trading, it’s essential to educate yourself about the market and develop a trading strategy based on technical analysis, fundamental analysis, or a combination of both.
  • Kenyan forex traders should opt for a trustworthy and regulated broker to prevent scams, acquire knowledge on forex trading, establish and adhere to a trading plan, devise a risk management strategy, practice trading using a demo account, stay up-to-date and well-informed, and monitor global financial market news.
  • Overall, the forex market in Kenya has witnessed significant growth in recent years. The rising popularity of forex trading among retail traders, coupled with advancements in technology, has contributed to the expansion of the market. 

For further information about Kenyan CMA visit Wikipedia.

Kenya Forex Regulator

Top 5 Best Forex Brokers in Kenya

Our list of Brokers in Kenya consists of the Regulated brokers with good record of operation and standards. So this shortlisted selection is advised and safe to invest with, also defined according to the narrowed criteria:

  • HFM — Best Overall Broker in Kenya 2024
  • BlackBull Markets — Best MT4 Broker in Kenya 2024
  • FP Markets — Best Broker for Beginners in Kenya 2024
  • Eightcap — Lowest Spread Broker in Kenya 2024
  • BDSwiss — Best for Scalping and EA Trading 2024

Which Forex Broker is the Best in Kenya?

Firstly, a good broker is a licensed broker, not necessarily licensed by Kenya CMA, but also by any other well-respected authority that allows brokers to accept traders from Kenya. Secondly, the broker’s offer itself should have good trading conditions, proper education, and support. Some of the best Forex brokers in Kenya are Pepperstone and HFM.

Do forex traders pay tax in Kenya?

Yes, forex traders in Kenya are required to pay taxes on their profits. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) may classify forex trading income as capital gains or business income, depending on the trader’s activities. Capital Gains Tax (CGT) rate is 5% on net gain, while business income is subject to income tax rates based on the trader’s income bracket.

What is the best time to trade forex in Kenya?

In Kenya, the optimal time for forex trading is between 11:00 and 17:00 East Africa Time, as the market experiences high liquidity and a significant volume of economic news during this period. This allows traders to potentially capitalize on the volatility that follows news releases.

Kenya Forex Brokers List

This is our comprehensive list of well-regulated international brokers that accept clients from Kenya. We strongly recommend selecting brokers with additional top-tier regulations and avoiding those that are only offshore based Brokers:

Broker Detail
Octa
Min. Deposit: $25
Max. Leverage: 1:30 | 1:500
Trading Platforms: MT4, MT5, Octatrader
Regulation: CySEC, SVGFSA, FSCA
Octa Review
SquaredFinancial Review Logo SquaredDirect | SquaredFinancial
Min. Deposit: $250
Max. Leverage: 1:30 | 1:500
Trading Platforms: MT4, MT5, Mobile App
Regulation: CySEC, FSA
SquaredDirect | SquaredFinancial Review
XM
Min. Deposit: US$5
Max. Leverage: 1:30 to 1:1000
Trading Platforms: MT4, MT5, XM WebTrader
Regulation: CySEC, ASIC, FSC, DFSA
XM Review
Instaforex Review InstaForex
Min. Deposit: 0 $
Max. Leverage: 1:30 | 1:1000
Trading Platforms: MT4, MT5, WebTrader, MobileTrader
Regulation: CySEC, FSC BVI, FSC
InstaForex Review
Exness Review Exness
Min. Deposit: 10 US$
Max. Leverage: 1:30 | 1:1000
Trading Platforms: MT4, MT5
Regulation: FCA, CMA, CySEC, SFSA, CBCS, FSC BVI, FSC Muritius, FSCA
Exness Review
XPro Markets Review Logo XPro Markets
Min. Deposit: $250
Max. Leverage: 1:30 | 1:400
Trading Platforms: MT4, Webtrader
Regulation: FSCA
XPro Markets Review
Traders Trust Review Logo Traders Trust
Min. Deposit: €50
Max. Leverage: 1:30 | 1:3000
Trading Platforms: MT4
Regulation: CySEC, FSA
Traders Trust Review
EasyEquities Review Logo EasyEquities
Min. Deposit: $0
Max. Leverage: Not Offering
Trading Platforms: EasyEquities Proprietary Trading Platform, Mobile Apps
Regulation: FSCA, ASIC
EasyEquities Review
Fxview Review Logo Fxview
Min. Deposit: $50
Max. Leverage: 1:30 | 1:500
Trading Platforms: MT4, MT5, ActTrader, ZuluTrade
Regulation: CySEC, FSCA, FSC, SEBI
Fxview Review
GKInvest Review Logo Trive Invest | GKInvest
Min. Deposit: $50
Max. Leverage: 1:30 | 1:400
Trading Platforms: MT5
Regulation: BAPPEBTI, FCA, ASIC, MFSA, FSCA, FSC
Trive Invest | GKInvest Review