Over the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the number of Kenyans looking for ‘greener pastures’ in the Middle East. Bahrain is one of the countries that host this population. The Kenyan immigrants in this country work in various sectors including hospitality, healthcare, construction, and domestic work. In addition to working for a better life for themselves, these individuals have to meet the needs of their dependents back home. In this article, we will show you the best ways to send money to Kenya from Bahrain.
WorldRemit
WorldRemit is one of the reliable ways to send money to Kenya from Bahrain. To conduct the transaction, download the WorldRemit app on Google Play or App Store. Once you have done so successfully, sign up, undergo the profile verification procedure, and then go ahead with the money transfer process. The available payment methods are a debit card, credit card, or a bank transfer.
Send money with WorldRemit using the code 3FREE and pay no fees on your first three money transfers.You will also receive a discount voucher for use in your next transaction when you refer a friend via your referral code. Other codes that you can also use are TRACE, NOLLYWOOD, APLUS, TFC, GMA, ASAP, Jollibee1, Jollibee2, Jollibee3, Jollibee4, WRBEE, EVENTS, CIMB.
Your receiver in Kenya can access the funds via their mobile wallet, bank account, or at one of the 15,000 pickup locations in the country. For the bank account option, you can transfer the amount to any major bank in Kenya other than Diamond Trust Bank’s business account.
As for the mobile wallet alternative, you can send up to KES70,000 to a M-Pesa account or KES300,000 to an Equitel account in a single transfer. The money will arrive instantly when you send to a mobile wallet and within a few minutes if you select the cash pickup option. As for bank transfer, the receiver will access the funds within 1 working day.
You get to see the applicable fees and the current conversion rate during the transfer process. Notably, using the promo code 3FREE will get you a discount in the form of zero fees for your first 3 transactions.
Skrill
You can send money to Kenya from Bahrain using Skrill. Indeed, it is one of the cheapest means of transferring funds. Neither you, nor the recipient in Kenya will incur any charge when you use this platform to send money to a bank account. However, there are some exceptions to this provision when you are sending money from your Skrill account to another Skrill account. For instance, if you registered your Skrill account after 8th April 2020, you will incur a 1.45% (minimum of €0.5) fee if you used a bank account or card to fund your wallet. You get to see the applicable fees and conversion rate during the transfer process.
As for the available discounts, the firm has the Knect loyalty program that you can join on Skrill’s website to earn rewards. To register and transfer funds, visit the website or download the Skrill app on Google Play or App Store.
You can choose to pay for the transaction via your debit or credit card. The available receiving methods for your recipient are a bank account, M-Pesa account, or an email address. For the latter two options, the money will arrive instantly. If you send to a bank account, the money will reach the recipient within 2 days.
Xpress Money
To send money from Bahrain to Kenya via Xpress Money, you can visit one of its agents in Bahrain or complete the transaction online. At the agent, you will be asked for your government-issued ID, the amount you intend to send plus the applicable fees, and the receiver’s details. You will be issued with a 16-digit PIN, which you should keep safely and only share it with the recipient.
If you wish to send the funds online, download the Xpress Money app on Google Play or App Store. You can pay for the transaction directly from your bank account or via a debit/credit card. Depending on the selected receiving method, the receiver in Kenya will access the funds via their bank account, M-Pesa account, or at one of the firm’s cash pickup locations. The cash pickup locations in Kenya include ABSA, Diamond Trust Bank, Co-operative Bank of Kenya, KCB Bank, and Post Bank.
The transfer speed for money that will be received in a mobile wallet or at a cash pickup location is usually a few minutes. For the bank account alternative, the money will arrive in 1 working day or more. As for the fees, you can calculate the applicable charges and conversion rate on the website. Below is a screenshot indicating the fees and amount that will reach the receiver in Kenya if you send BHD1,000 to be accessed at a cash pickup location.
Western Union
One of the oldest ways to send money to Kenya from Bahrain is via Western Union. You can choose to send money at one of the Western Union agents in Bahrain. To do so, carry along your government-issued ID, the amount to be sent, cash to cater for the transfer fees, and the recipient’s details. Alternatively, you can head on to the company’s website or download the Western Union app on Google Play or App Store. A Bahrain-issued debit card is the available payment method.
Depending on the receiving method you choose, the recipient in Kenya can access the funds at one of the numerous Western Union agents in the country or in his/her bank account. For the cash pickup option, the money will arrive in minutes. On the other hand, it usually takes 1 working day for the receiver to get the money in their bank account.
As for the fees, Western Union has competitive exchange rates and relatively low charges. The screenshot below shows the fees and the amount that will reach the recipient if you were to send BHD1,000 to be accessed at a cash pickup location. For discounts, sign up for the My WU loyalty program by clicking on ‘My WU’ on the firm’s website or app.
MoneyGram
If you are wondering how to send money from Bahrain to Kenya, MoneyGram is yet another convenient option. The firm has three ways to send money. To start with, you can choose to visit one of its agents in Bahrain and pay in cash. Ensure that you carry along the receiver’s details, the amount to be sent and the applicable fees, and your government-issued ID.
Alternatively, you can send the funds online or via the MoneyGram app. The app is available on Google Play or App Store. In both cases, you will need to sign up to start the transfer process. You can pay for the transaction directly from your bank account or with a debit/credit card.
Depending on the selected receiving method, the recipient in Kenya will access the funds via his/her bank account or at one of the available cash pickup locations. The transfer speed for the two alternatives is 1 working day and a few minutes respectively.
You will be able to see the fees and conversion rate during the transfer process. The screenshot below shows the charges and the amount that the recipient will get if you sent BHD1,000. MoneyGram Plus Rewards program allows you to enjoy different discounts. For instance, upon signing up for the loyalty program, you will receive 20% off on the fees of your 2nd transaction. Besides, you will get a discount of 40% on fees after every 5th transfer.
Final Thoughts on Money Transfer to Kenya From Bahrain
When looking for the best way to send money to Kenya from Bahrain, ensure that you compare the terms of different companies. Consider aspects such as the fees and conversion rates, transfer speed, the convenience of the available receiving methods to the recipient, and the convenience of the availed payment methods to you.