Kenyan remote workers already know that landing international gigs is only half the journey. It takes hours of pitching to clients, navigating tricky time zones, and pushing through tight deadlines, all with the hope that the hard work eventually pays off. And when the payment finally arrives, you expect to feel relieved.

But instead, you're left doing the math, wondering where a chunk of your money disappeared to. After the currency conversion, the amount that lands in your account is far less than what you had in mind. It feels like you're being shortchanged for work you poured your energy into.

Grey helps Kenyan freelancers receive foreign payments, convert at real-time rates, and withdraw with no hidden charges, so you can focus on your work and earn what you truly worked for.

Read also: How freelancers in Kenya can receive payments from US, UK & EU clients.

The impact of hidden FX fees on Kenyan remote workers

1. Lower take-home pay: No matter how much your client pays you in USD, GBP, or EUR, hidden FX fees silently reduce your take-home income. You may think you’re earning $1,000, but after conversions, deductions, and bank fees, you might end up with far less.
2. Harder to save: With every transaction eating into your money, it becomes tougher to build savings or reinvest in tools that grow your work.
3. Less trust in global gigs: The stress of losing money to FX fees can make you second-guess working with international clients, limiting your earning potential.
4. Difficult money planning: Hidden fees create uncertainty. If you don’t know exactly how much you'll receive or when it will arrive, it makes budgeting, paying bills, or investing in your goals more difficult.

Read also: How to receive foreign payments in Kenya as a freelancer or remote worker.

How traditional banks make FX expensive for Kenyan freelancers

1. Hidden deductions: Most banks don’t tell you exactly what you’re paying. Instead of showing a clear FX fee, they give you a weaker exchange rate and keep the difference.
2. Old systems: Traditional banks still run on legacy systems built for large corporations. They're slow, complicated, and not designed for freelancers or remote workers. That’s why your money takes days to reflect and comes with layers of charges.
3. Middlemen: When your client sends money from abroad, it doesn’t come straight to your bank. It goes through several intermediary banks, each one taking a small cut. By the time it gets to your account in Kenya, what’s left can be disappointing.
4. No flexibility: Most banks don’t let you hold USD, GBP, or EUR. They convert your money automatically to KES at poor rates, giving you no choice or control over the value of your income.

How Grey helps Kenyan freelancers beat FX fees

1. Receive like a local with foreign accounts: Grey gives you access to UK, US, and EU bank accounts so that you can receive money in GBP, USD, or EUR directly. No third parties, no wire deductions.
2. Convert at better rates: Grey uses mid-market exchange rates and shows you exactly how much you’ll get before you convert. No hidden margins, no bad surprises.
3. Get paid faster: Clients can send payments directly to your Grey account. No long waits, no excuses, just quicker access to your money.
4. Easy local withdrawals: Once you’ve converted your funds, you can withdraw directly to your M-Pesa or local bank account in Kenya. Fast, reliable, and easy.

The smarter way for Kenyan remote workers to get paid

Grey gives Kenyan freelancers exactly what they need: real-time currency conversion with full transparency and no hidden charges. You earn in USD, GBP, or EUR, convert at fair rates, and withdraw easily into your local account. With Grey, you save more, earn what you truly worked for, and finally take control of your international payments.

Sign up on Grey today and keep more of your hard-earned income.

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