KES black market rate on Sep 9, 2026: 127.77 per USD
On Wednesday, September 9, 2026, the US dollar traded at about 127.77 KES on Kenya's parallel (black) market at the close of observations. The day opened at 128.4 KES, reached a high of 130.3 and a low of 125.23, a trading range of 5.07 KES (4.05%).
Across 288 observations, the average price to buy dollars was 128.76 KES and the average price received when selling dollars was 130.03 KES. Over the session the Kenyan Shilling strengthened against the dollar (-0.49% from open to close).
Official rate vs black market rate on Sep 9, 2026
The official exchange rate published for Kenya on this date was 129.44 KES per USD. The parallel-market close of 127.77 KES therefore implied a premium of -1.29% over the official rate — a narrow gap, indicating the two markets were close to converged.
How Sep 9, 2026 compares
Compared with the previous observed day (Sep 8, 2026, close 128.4 KES), the rate moved -0.49%.
One week earlier (Sep 2, 2026) the close was 128.74 KES, so the weekly change was -0.75%.
Thirty days earlier (Aug 10, 2026) the close was 128.63 KES, a -0.66% move over the month.
How this daily figure is produced
ETCurrency samples Kenya's USD/KES parallel market throughout the day from peer-to-peer stablecoin order books and, where available, community submissions. Each sample is filtered for outliers and aggregated into a single buy and sell quote; the figures above are the first, highest, lowest and last of those aggregated quotes for Sep 9, 2026 (UTC).
USDT peer-to-peer prices closely track cash dollar prices in most parallel markets but are not identical to them: payment-method fees, merchant margins and local demand for stablecoins can all add a few tenths of a percent.
Frequently asked questions
- What was the dollar to Kenyan Shilling black market rate on Sep 9, 2026?
- The USD to KES parallel market rate closed at approximately 127.77 KES per US dollar on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, after trading between 125.23 and 130.3 KES.
- How much did the KES move against the dollar that day?
- From an open of 128.4 to a close of 127.77 KES, the parallel rate moved -0.49% on Sep 9, 2026.
- What was the gap between the official and black market KES rate on that date?
- The official rate was 129.44 KES per USD versus a parallel close of 127.77 KES, a premium of -1.29%.
- Was the KES black market rate higher or lower than the day before?
- Lower: the previous observed close was 128.4 KES on Sep 8, 2026, a change of -0.49%.
Figures are aggregated parallel-market observations for Kenya in UTC and are indicative only; they are not a quote to trade. See the full USD → Kenyan Shilling history or today's live rate.