NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 23 – The number of foreign exchange bureaus in Garissa rose by 300 percent to four in 2025, up from one the previous year, according to the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).

The increase raised Garissa’s share of Kenya’s forex bureaus to 2.1 per cent from 0.6 percent in 2024.

Mombasa recorded the second-largest increase in percentage points, with the number of forex bureaus rising by five to 15, a 50 percent increase. Its market share rose to 8 percent from 6.1 percent.

Nairobi recorded the largest increase in absolute numbers, with 14 new forex bureaus opening during the year, a 9.7 percent jump. The number of outlets in the capital rose to 157 from 143, giving Nairobi an 83.5 percent share of the national market.

“The increase in outlets particularly in Nairobi is attributed to increased demand for foreign exchange services,” CBK said in its 2025 Bank Supervision Annual Report.

The increase in demand for foreign currency has been linked to transactions by traders and travellers, as well as individuals seeking foreign currencies, particularly the US dollar.