IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Tickmill
FP MarketsBest Forex Brokers in Kenya for 2024
Written by Steven Hatzakis
Edited by John Bringans
Fact-checked by Joey Shadeck
ForexBrokers.com has been reviewing online forex brokers for over six years, and our reviews are the most cited in the industry. Each year, we collect thousands of data points and publish tens of thousands of words of research. Here's how we test.
Trading forex (currencies) in Kenya is popular among residents. While recommended, forex brokers are not required to become authorised by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) to accept residents of Kenya as customers, unless based in Kenya.
The Capital Markets Authority is the financial regulatory body in Kenya. Website: https://www.cma.or.ke/. We also recommend that residents of Kenya follow the CMA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cmakenya.
The CMA was established in 1989 and is responsible for supervising, licensing, and monitoring the activities of market intermediaries. For a historical breakdown, here's a link to the Capital Markets Authority webpage on Wikipedia.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Best Forex Brokers Kenya
To find the best forex brokers in Kenya, we created a list of all brokers that list Kenya as a country they accept new customers from. We then ranked brokers by their Overall ranking.
Here is our list of the best forex brokers in Kenya:
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IG
- Best overall broker, most trusted
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Interactive Brokers
- Great overall, best for professionals
- FOREX.com - Excellent all-round offering
- XTB - Great research and education
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Capital.com
- Great for beginners, easy to use
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AvaTrade
- Great for beginners and copy trading
- OANDA - Trusted broker, great research
Kenya Forex Brokers Comparison
Compare Kenya authorised forex and CFDs brokers side by side using the forex broker comparison tool or the summary table below. This broker list is sorted by my overall rankings of the top forex brokers.
| Company | Accepts KE Residents | Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | Minimum Deposit | Overall Rating | Visit Site |
 IG
|
0.98 | £250.00 |
 |
Visit Site
|
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 Interactive Brokers
|
0.63 | $0 |
|
Visit Site
|
|
 FOREX.com
|
1.4 | $100 |
|
||
 XTB
|
1.00 | $0 |
|
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 Capital.com
|
0.67 | $20 |
 |
Visit Site
|
|
 AvaTrade
|
0.92 | $100 |
|
Visit Site
|
|
 OANDA
|
1.57 | $0 |
|
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 FXCM
|
0.74 | Starts from $50 |
|
Visit Site
 |
|
 Admirals
|
0.8 | $100 |
|
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 Pepperstone
|
0.77 | $200 |
|
Visit Site
 |
|
 XM Group
|
1.6 | $5 |
|
Visit Site
 |
|
 FP Markets
|
1.1 | $100 AUD |
|
Visit Site
 |
|
 IC Markets
|
0.62 | $200 |
|
Visit Site
 |
|
 BlackBull Markets
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0.76 | $0 |
 |
Visit Site
 |
|
 HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets)
|
0.6 | $20 |
|
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 HFM
|
1.2 | $0 |
|
Visit Site
 |
|
 FlowBank
|
N/A | $0 |
|
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 Trade Nation
|
0.6 | $0 |
|
||
 Moneta Markets
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1.27 | $50 |
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 Eightcap
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1.0 | $100 |
|
Visit Site
 |
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 ACY Securities
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1.2 | $50 |
|
Visit Site
 |
|
 easyMarkets
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0.9 | $50 |
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 Spreadex
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0.81 | $0 |
|
Visit Site
 |
|
 Libertex (Forex Club)
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N/A | $10 |
 |
How to Verify CMA Authorisation
To find a list of authorized forex brokers, residents can download the list of licenses report from the Capital Markets Authority website to verify the authorisation of a broker.
Why regulation is important
Choosing a reputable, well-regulated forex broker is a crucial step towards avoiding forex scams. My educational series dedicated to forex scams shows you how to identify common forex scams and provides helpful information about what to do if you've been scammed. I also explain how crypto enthusiasts and bitcoin traders can spot common crypto scams.
About the CMA
The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) is a statutory agency established in 1989 under the Capital Markets Act in order to both regulate and develop the capital markets in Kenya. The CMA issues licenses, ensures compliance with legal frameworks, regulates financial instruments such as securities, equities, and bonds, and promotes market development within the country through foreign direct investment. The CMA also regulates the activities of the Kenyan Stock Exchange and the Central Depository and Settlement Corporation (CDSC). More recently, the CMA issued new directives pertaining to CFD products, including more stringent guidelines on disclosures and investor education programs.
Is forex legal in Kenya?
Yes, forex trading is legal in Kenya. However, the Capital Markets Authority issued a joint public notice in conjunction with the Central Bank of Kenya in August 2020 warning residents of numerous unlicensed trading platforms in Kenya. Accordingly, the CMA sent cease and desist orders to these unlicensed forex brokers as part of a national crackdown. It’s important to check if your preferred broker is licensed by the CMA and holds an official registration number – this will likely mean that it upholds Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements, such as maintaining billing records for all forex transactions over $10,000. In addition, licensed forex brokers in Kenya must maintain a minimum operating balance of 50 million shillings as part of capital requirements.
How do I start trading forex in Kenya?
If you want to get started trading forex in Kenya, your first step will be to choose a forex broker that is highly regulated in reputable international jurisdictions. Once you’ve chosen a forex broker, you can enter the forex market and start placing trades. Check out my step-by-step guide for beginner forex traders looking to enter the forex market for the first time:
- Go through your broker's account application process. Always make sure to read through any applicable terms and conditions.
- Choose a deposit method for funding your account. If you want to place real readers, you’ll need to fund your new brokerage account. Choose an accepted method of deposit (PayPal is a popular choice for many forex traders) and deposit an amount you can afford to risk.
- Check out a demo (or, virtual trading) account. Demo accounts are a great way to get familiar with your broker’s trading platform without risking your funds.
- Put together a trading strategy. Planning is key. Developing a sound trading strategy is an important part of finding success in the forex market. Learn more about developing trading plans by checking out my guide to getting started as a forex trader.
- Dive into the forex market for the first time. Enter the forex market, choose your desired trade size, and then open a position by clicking buy on a given currency (or open a short position by clicking sell).
How to start forex trading
Learn more about getting started as a forex trader by checking out my in-depth Forex 101 educational series. I go over everything you need to know to start out as a forex trader; you'll learn about forex and currency trading, leverage in the forex market, how to calculate pips, and more.
What forex broker has the best trading platform in Kenya?
IG is the best forex broker in Kenya and delivers the best forex trading platform experience for Kenyan forex traders. I’ve been testing IG’s products for years, and I’ve consistently found the broker’s trading platforms and tools to be industry leaders. IG’s customizable web platform delivers sophisticated charting and integrated forex trading signals. It’s also worth noting that IG’s clients gain access to MetaTrader 4, comprehensive educational resources, economic calendars, market analysis, and the broker’s DailyFX news portal. IG also holds more regulatory licenses across the world than any of the 60+ forex brokers reviewed on our site. Delve deeper by reading my IG review.
Check out a gallery of screenshots from IG's trading platforms, taken by our research team during our product testing.
What is the best forex trading app in Kenya?
After looking closely at the best forex trading apps offered by both international and local forex brokers in Kenya, I’ve found that IG’s state-of-the-art mobile trading app is the best choice for Kenyan forex traders. I’ve been reviewing and testing IG’s products for over six years, and in my opinion, IG’s mobile offering is unmatched. Traders at IG gain access to two versatile trading apps: the MetaTrader 4 (MT4) app, alongside the broker’s own flagship app, IG Trading. It’s possible to coordinate automatic alerts and access real-time trading signals or interactive charts in a seamless manner thanks to the IG Trading app’s modern, minimalist design. IG’s mobile suite was developed in-house by their own software engineering team, and excels from both a UX and functionality standpoint.
Here are some screenshots of IG's mobile trading suite, taken by our research team during our product testing.
What are the best regulated forex brokers in Kenya?
1. IG
99 Trust Score - Most trusted broker in 2024
IG is the best forex broker in Kenya, offering access to nearly every global market through over 19,500 tradable assets. IG is authorized by eight highly trusted Tier-1 regulators and holds an overall Trust Score of 99. Trust Score is a proprietary algorithm that produces an individual numerical rating for each broker based on a variety of data-driven variables (IG holds the highest Trust Score rating in our independent database). Both beginner and seasoned traders pursuing online trading in Kenya can rest assured knowing that IG is subject to a wide range of local, regional, and global regulations.
Check out a gallery of screenshots from IG's educational resources, taken by our research team during our product testing.
2. FOREX.com
99 Trust Score - Publicly traded
When it comes to online forex trading in Kenya, FOREX.com’s multi-asset offering shines. Traders at FOREX.com gain access to their suite of proprietary Advanced Trading (desktop) and Web Trading (browser) platforms, as well as handy price charting options via TradingView. FOREX.com’s parent company StoneX is regulated in seven Tier-1 jurisdictions, one Tier-2 jurisdiction, and one Tier-4 jurisdiction. In addition to monitoring all financial transactions on its platform for Anti-Money Laundering activities, FOREX.com is a member of the Investor Compensation Fund (ICF). Learn more by reading my review of FOREX.com.
Click through a gallery of screenshots from FOREX.com's trading platforms, taken by our research team during our product testing.
3. XTB
95 Trust Score - Publicly traded
XTB’s research offerings include streaming headlines from top-tier news providers such as Reuters, an economic calendar, market sentiment, trading signals, video webinars, as well as in-depth articles that include both fundamental and technical analysis. Unlike IG and FOREX.com, XTB is not authorized in the United States, but it does hold a highly coveted UK license from the FCA and is still considered to be one of the best trading platforms in Kenya, offering a broad range of 57 forex pairs available to trade. Check out my full review of XTB.
Take a look at this gallery of screenshots from XTB's trading platforms, taken by our research team during our product testing.
Article Resources
Capital Markets Authority Website, CMA List of Licenses, Wikipedia
Compare Kenya Brokers
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2024 Review Methodology
At ForexBrokers.com, our reviews of online forex brokers and their products and services are based on our collected data as well as the observations and qualified opinions of our expert researchers. Each year we publish tens of thousands of words of research on the top forex brokers and monitor dozens of international regulator agencies (read more about how we calculate Trust Score here).
Our research team conducts thorough testing on a wide range of features, products, services, and tools (collecting and validating thousands of data points in the process). We test all available trading platforms for each broker – whether they are proprietary or come from third-party providers – and evaluate them based on a host of data-driven variables.
We also take an in-depth look at each broker’s commissions and fees, such as bid/ask spreads – including the average spread data for some of the most popular forex currency pairs. We research other trading costs, such as inactivity or custody fees, minimum deposit requirements, VIP rebates and/or discounts, and a range of other important fee-based data points.
Some of the other important research categories that are factored into our testing include mobile trading accessibility and capability, availability of market research and educational content, and each broker’s overall Trust Score.
All content on ForexBrokers.com is handwritten by a writer, fact-checked by a member of our research team, and edited and published by an editor. Generative AI tools are not a part of our content creation or product testing processes. Our ratings, rankings, and opinions are entirely our own, and the result of our extensive research and decades of collective experience covering the forex industry. Read our Generative AI policy to learn more.
Read our full explanation and accounting of our research and testing process to learn more about how we test.
Forex Risk Disclaimer
There is a very high degree of risk involved in trading securities. With respect to margin-based foreign exchange trading, off-exchange derivatives, and cryptocurrencies, there is considerable exposure to risk, including but not limited to, leverage, creditworthiness, limited regulatory protection and market volatility that may substantially affect the price, or liquidity of a currency or related instrument. It should not be assumed that the methods, techniques, or indicators presented in these products will be profitable, or that they will not result in losses. Read more on forex trading risks.
About the Editorial Team
Steven Hatzakis is the Global Director of Research for ForexBrokers.com. Steven previously served as an Editor for Finance Magnates, where he authored over 1,000 published articles about the online finance industry. A forex industry expert and an active fintech and crypto researcher, Steven advises blockchain companies at the board level and holds a Series III license in the U.S. as a Commodity Trading Advisor (CTA).
John Bringans is the Senior Editor of ForexBrokers.com. An experienced media professional, John has close to a decade of editorial experience with a background that includes key leadership roles at global newsroom outlets. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from San Francisco State University, and conducts research on forex and the financial services industry while assisting in the production of content.
Joey Shadeck is the Content Strategist and Research Analyst for ForexBrokers.com. He holds dual degrees in Finance and Marketing from Oakland University, and has been an active trader and investor for close to ten years. An industry veteran, Joey obtains and verifies data, conducts research, and analyzes and validates our content.