Gold price today in Kenya (KES)
Today's gold rate in Kenyan shillings per gram, per 10 grams and per ounce for 24k and lower karats: the international price converted at the latest USD/KES exchange rate, refreshed automatically. Education only, not a quote.
1 USD = 129.85 KES (mid-market). Gold price change today: -50.4 USD (-1.24%) per ounce. International spot price converted to KES; local taxes, duty and premiums are not included.
Gold price by karat in KES (per gram, per 10 grams, per ounce)
| Karat | Purity · fineness | Per gram | Per 10 grams | Per troy ounce |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24K | 100.00% · 999 | 16,741 | 167,406 | 520,690 |
| 22K | 91.67% · 916 | 15,346 | 153,461 | 477,316 |
| 21K | 87.50% · 875 | 14,648 | 146,480 | 455,604 |
| 18K | 75.00% · 750 | 12,555 | 125,554 | 390,517 |
Purity multipliers: 24k = 1.000, 22k = 0.9167, 21k = 0.875, 18k = 0.750. Many bars are 999 or 999.9 fine rather than exactly 24k, which changes the value by 0.1% or less.
Gold price in KES: last 7 trading days (24k, at today's exchange rate)
| Date | USD close / oz | KES per gram | KES per 10 grams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-23 | 4,007.9 | 16,732 | 167,318 |
| 2026-10-22 | 4,060.4 | 16,951 | 169,510 |
| 2026-10-21 | 4,150.0 | 17,325 | 173,250 |
| 2026-10-20 | 4,142.6 | 17,294 | 172,941 |
| 2026-10-19 | 4,160.1 | 17,367 | 173,672 |
| 2026-10-16 | 4,181.1 | 17,455 | 174,549 |
| 2026-10-15 | 4,170.1 | 17,409 | 174,089 |
Each row uses that day's COMEX closing price in US dollars converted at today's USD/KES rate (129.85), not the exchange rate on that date. It isolates the gold move from the currency move.
Gold price: last 30 sessions (USD per ounce, COMEX closes)
Multiply by the USD/KES rate for the local price. A longer history and performance table is on the XAUUSD price page.
Gold: COMEX gold futures (GC=F) via Yahoo Finance, updated . Exchange rates: Rates by Exchange Rate API (open.er-api.com), updated . Both refresh automatically several times a day; the numbers on this page re-check the data when it loads.
Gold price in Kenya: per gram in shillings
Kenyan jewellers quote gold per gram in shillings, mostly for 18k and 21k pieces, with 22k in the South Asian community and 24k for the small number of bars and coins sold through dealers and banks. There is no national daily rate list, so shops in Nairobi and Mombasa work from the international price and the dollar rate. Today's conversion gives 16,741 KES per gram for 24k, 14,648 KES for 21k and 12,555 KES for 18k, before taxes, premiums and labour.
Artisanal mining, Nairobi and the coast
Kenya produces gold through artisanal and small-scale mining in the west of the country, around Migori, Kakamega and Siaya, and through a few larger projects. Much of that output is sold informally, and the government has worked to formalise buying and refining. In the shops, gold is bought for weddings, especially in the Indian and Swahili communities of Nairobi and the coast, and as a store of value by people who have watched the shilling weaken. Because hallmarking is not enforced, buyers rely on dealers who test purity in front of them and issue receipts stating karat and weight.
Taxes, import costs and the shilling
Import duty and VAT can apply to gold jewellery and to imported bars, and the rules have been amended in successive Finance Acts, so we do not quote rates here; confirm with the Kenya Revenue Authority or the dealer. The exchange rate is the other moving part. The shilling depreciated for years, then recovered sharply in 2024, and each of those moves changed the shilling gold price without any change in the dollar price. When comparing a local quote with the conversion on this page, ask which dollar rate the dealer used.
What moves the shilling gold price
Two layers again. Globally, US interest-rate expectations and real yields, the dollar index, central-bank buying and geopolitical risk set the dollar price. Locally, Central Bank of Kenya policy, the country's debt and foreign-exchange reserves, and remittance and export flows (tea, flowers, tourism) set USD/KES. A strong dollar is usually bad for both: it pressures gold in dollars and weakens the shilling, though the shilling effect often dominates. Read what moves gold prices for the global side.
Trading hours in East Africa Time
Kenya is on EAT (UTC+3) all year, which puts the European session in the local morning and the London–New York overlap, the busiest window, today at about 15:00–19:00 EAT, in the late afternoon and evening. Online gold trading is regulated by the Capital Markets Authority, which licenses online forex brokers; the Kenya gold trading guide explains how to check a licence and what the CMA's rules mean for leverage and client money. The market hours tool shows every session on your clock.
How this KES gold price is calculated
Three numbers decide everything on this page. First, the international gold price in US dollars per troy ounce: $4,010.0 at the last update. Second, the exchange rate: 1 USD = 129.85 KES. Third, the weight: one troy ounce is 31.1035 grams, and one tola is 11.6638 grams.
- Price per gram in USD = $4,010.0 ÷ 31.1035 = $128.92.
- Price per gram in KES = $128.92 × 129.85 = 16,741 KES (24k, pure gold).
- Price per 10 grams = 16,741 × 10 = 167,406 KES.
- For a lower purity, multiply by the fineness: 22k = 0.9167, 21k = 0.875, 18k = 0.750.
The gold price comes from COMEX gold futures, which track spot XAUUSD closely but are not identical to it. The exchange rate is a mid-market rate; the rate your bank or money changer gives you will be slightly different. If you want to do the maths yourself, our guide to converting the gold price per gram, tola and kilo walks through every step with worked examples.
What this price does not include
The figures above are the international spot price converted into local currency. They are the starting point for every retail price in Kenya, but they are not the price you will pay or receive at a shop. The retail or "jeweller" price adds some or all of these on top:
- Import duty or customs charges, where the country imports most of its gold.
- Sales tax, GST or VAT, which may apply to jewellery, to bars and coins, or to both, depending on local law.
- Dealer premium: the margin a bullion dealer or bank adds to the spot price for bars and coins, usually larger on small pieces.
- Making charges (labour) on jewellery, often a percentage of the gold value or a fixed amount per gram.
- Local supply and demand, which can push the physical price to a premium or a discount against the international price for weeks at a time.
When you sell, the buyer usually quotes below the spot-based number and deducts for purity testing, wear and sometimes stones. The gap between the buying and the selling price is the real cost of owning physical gold, and it varies a lot between shops, so it is worth asking several.
Frequently asked questions
What is the gold rate today in Kenya?
At the last update, pure (24k) gold was about 16,741 KES per gram and 167,406 KES per 10 grams, based on the international price converted at the latest exchange rate. The numbers at the top of this page refresh automatically. Local retail rates published by jewellers’ associations and bullion dealers will be higher because they add import costs, VAT where it applies, premiums and making charges.
What is the difference between 22k and 24k gold?
Karat (k) measures purity in 24ths. 24k is pure gold (99.9% or more), 22k is 91.67% gold (fineness 916), 21k is 87.5% (875) and 18k is 75% (750). The rest is other metals such as copper or silver, which make the alloy harder. Because you pay for the gold content, 22k gold costs about 8.3% less per gram than 24k, and 18k costs 25% less. Bars and coins are usually 24k; jewellery is usually 22k, 21k or 18k so that it does not bend or scratch easily.
Why is the price at my jeweller different from the price on this page?
This page shows the international spot price converted into KES. A jeweller’s rate adds import costs, VAT where it applies, a dealer premium, making charges on jewellery, and the shop’s own margin. It may also be based on a local association rate set once or twice a day rather than the live international price, so it lags on volatile days. A difference of a few percent is normal; a very large gap deserves questions.
Is it a good time to buy gold in Kenya?
We cannot tell you that, and nobody can with certainty. The local price depends on two things that are both hard to forecast: the international gold price and the KES exchange rate. What you can do is compare today’s price with the 30-day chart and the 7-day table on this page, decide why you want gold (savings, a gift, a wedding, trading) and how long you plan to hold it, and avoid buying all at once if the timing worries you. This page is education, not financial advice.
How do I check the purity of gold in Kenya?
Ask the dealer to test the piece in front of you (acid test or an electronic tester), check the karat stamp, and get a receipt stating the karat and weight. Prices far below the per-gram conversion on this page for the stated karat are a warning sign. Buying from established jewellers and licensed dealers reduces the risk.
Why did the shilling gold price fall in 2024 when gold rose?
Because the shilling strengthened sharply against the dollar that year. The local price is the dollar price multiplied by USD/KES, so a stronger shilling lowers it even while gold rises in dollars. Kenyan holders are exposed to both markets at once.