Kenya’s forex reserves remain above Ksh1.9 trillion
Kenya’s foreign exchange reserves stood at Ksh1.96 trillion as of August 20, 2026, providing 6.3 months of import cover, according to the latest Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) Weekly Bulletin. The reserves, equivalent to Ksh1.96 trillion using the exchange rate of Ksh129.49 to the dollar on August 20, remained above the CBK’s statutory requirement of […]
Kenya's foreign exchange reserves remained above the critical threshold of Ksh1.9 trillion as of August 20, 2026, according to the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). The reserves stood at Ksh1.96 trillion, providing 6.3 months of import cover, which surpassed the minimum requirement of four months. The Kenya Shilling held steady against major currencies, trading at Ksh129.49 to the dollar, Ksh176.41 to the pound, and Ksh151.07 to the euro.
Commercial banks' excess reserves averaged Ksh45.9 billion above the 3.25 percent Cash Reserve Ratio requirement, indicating a liquid money market. The CBK reported strong demand for government securities, with the Treasury bill auction on August 20 attracting bids more than three times the advertised amount, resulting in lower interest rates.
The Kenya Shilling Overnight Interbank Average Rate remained unchanged at 8.75 percent. The Nairobi Securities Exchange saw gains in indices and market capitalization, while bond turnover increased in the domestic secondary market. Global commodity prices rose due to geopolitical tensions and concerns over oil supply disruptions, boosting the price of crude oil and gold.
Written by urgent.news from People Daily Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
