🇰🇪 Kenya · Updated October 2026
CMA regulated forex brokers in Kenya (October 2026)
These are the online forex brokers licensed by Kenya's Capital Markets Authority (CMA), with the Kenyan company that would hold your money and its licence number. Every row is matched to the official CMA list.
All 16 CMA-licensed forex brokers we track
The CMA licenses these firms as non-dealing or dealing online forex brokers. A dealing broker can take the other side of your trades. Click a broker for its review and licence details.
As of 29 October 2026, 16 online forex brokers in our table hold a licence from Kenya's Capital Markets Authority (CMA). 5 of them are reported to accept M-Pesa: Empire FX, Exness, FXPesa (Equiti), HFM and XM.
| Broker | Licensed company in Kenya | CMA licence | M-Pesa | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admirals | Admirals KE Limited | 178 | Not confirmed | Admirals review → |
| ANZO Capital | ANZO Capital Limited | 219 | Not confirmed | ANZO Capital review → |
| AvaTrade | Ava Trade Kenya Limited | 262 | Not confirmed | AvaTrade review → |
| Capital.com | CC Kenya Securities Limited | 244 | Not confirmed | Capital.com review → |
| Empire FX | Empire FX Trade Limited | 203 | Yes | Empire FX review → |
| Exness | Exness KE Limited | 162 | Yes | Exness review → |
| FP Markets | FP Markets Limited | 193 | Not confirmed | FP Markets review → |
| FXPesa (Equiti) | EGM Securities Limited | 107 | Yes | FXPesa (Equiti) review → |
| FXTM | Exinity Capital East Africa Limited | 135 | Not confirmed | FXTM review → |
| HFM | HFM Investments Limited | 155 | Yes | HFM review → |
| IC Markets | IC Markets (KE) Limited | 199 | Not confirmed | IC Markets review → |
| INGOT Brokers | Ingot Ke Limited | 173 | Not confirmed | INGOT Brokers review → |
| Pepperstone | Pepperstone Markets Kenya Limited | 128 | Not confirmed | Pepperstone review → |
| Scope Markets | SCFM Limited | 123 | Not confirmed | Scope Markets review → |
| Windsor Brokers | Windsor Markets Kenya Limited | 156 | Not confirmed | Windsor Brokers review → |
| XM | TPXMGLOBAL Kenya Limited | 233 | Yes | XM review → |
Source: CMA register. Always confirm a licence on the regulator's own site before you deposit.
M-Pesa limits, which licensed brokers take M-Pesa, and the payment tricks scammers use.
Popular brokers that are not licensed in Kenya
These brokers are well known, but they are not on the CMA list. We do not link to them for Kenyan traders.
- ACY Securities: not on the CMA register, though it holds an FSCA licence in South Africa (FSP 51008).
- ATFX: not on the CMA register, though it holds an FSCA licence in South Africa (FSP 55142).
- CM Trading: not on the CMA register.
- Deriv: not on the CMA register.
- FBS: not on the CMA register.
- FXCM: not on the CMA register, though it holds an FSCA licence in South Africa (FSP 46534).
- FxPro: not on the CMA register, though it holds an FSCA licence in South Africa (FSP 45052).
- GT247: not on the CMA register, though it holds an FSCA licence in South Africa (FSP 46315 (Purple Group); ODP43).
- Headway: not on the CMA register.
- IFX Brokers: not on the CMA register, though it holds an FSCA licence in South Africa (Approved ODP).
- IG: not on the CMA register, though it holds an FSCA licence in South Africa (FSP 41393).
- INFINOX: not on the CMA register.
- JustMarkets: not on the CMA register, though it holds an FSCA licence in South Africa (FSP 51114).
- Libertex: not on the CMA register.
- Markets.com: not on the CMA register, though it holds an FSCA licence in South Africa (FSP 46860).
- Moneta Markets: not on the CMA register.
- Octa: not on the CMA register, though it holds an FSCA licence in South Africa (FSP 51913).
- Plus500: not on the CMA register, though it holds an FSCA licence in South Africa (FSP 47546).
- PU Prime: not on the CMA register, though it holds an FSCA licence in South Africa (FSP 52218).
- STARTRADER: not on the CMA register.
- ThinkMarkets: not on the CMA register, though it holds an FSCA licence in South Africa (Approved ODP).
- Tickmill: not on the CMA register, though it holds an FSCA licence in South Africa (FSP 49464).
- Trade Nation: not on the CMA register, though it holds an FSCA licence in South Africa (FSP 49846).
- Trade245: not on the CMA register, though it holds an FSCA licence in South Africa (FSP 46044).
- Trive: not on the CMA register, though it holds an FSCA licence in South Africa (FSP 27231).
- Vantage Markets: not on the CMA register, though it holds an FSCA licence in South Africa (FSP 51268).
- Vault Markets: not on the CMA register, though it holds an FSCA licence in South Africa (FSP 49015).
- VT Markets: not on the CMA register, though it holds an FSCA licence in South Africa (FSP 50865).
- XTB: not on the CMA register.
How to check a forex broker in Kenya yourself
- Find the name of the Kenyan company on the broker's website, usually in the footer. It often differs from the brand name.
- Open the CMA list of online forex brokers and find that exact company name and licence number.
- Make sure you open your account with that Kenyan company, not an offshore company of the same brand.
- Never send money to a person, a WhatsApp “account manager” or a crypto wallet. See our forex scam guide.
Or type the broker's name into our forex broker check.
Forex trading in Kenya: common questions
Is forex trading legal in Kenya?
Yes, through a broker licensed by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) under the Capital Markets (Online Foreign Exchange Trading) Regulations, 2017. The CMA has told unlicensed brokers to stop onboarding Kenyan investors and to stop advertising locally.
How many forex brokers are licensed by the CMA?
On 29 October 2026 the CMA register listed 14 non-dealing and 2 dealing online forex brokers. All 16 are in the table on this page with their licence numbers.
Which CMA-regulated brokers accept M-Pesa?
Among the CMA-licensed brokers we track, Empire FX, Exness, FXPesa (Equiti), HFM and XM are reported to accept M-Pesa from Kenyan clients. Payment methods change often, so check the broker's Kenyan site before you deposit.
Can I use a broker that is not licensed in Kenya?
Many offshore brokers accept Kenyans, but the CMA says firms without a Kenyan licence may not onboard Kenyan investors. If something goes wrong, you would not have the CMA's dispute process on your side.