Trading platforms in Kenya: entities, licences & costs
Which platforms accept Kenyan clients, the exact legal entity that opens your account, register-checked licence numbers and real costs — ranked by our published method, commission weighted 0%.
20 of the 20 platforms in our database accept Kenyan clients. We've mapped 15 of them to the specific legal entity that onboards a Kenyan client: 9 route Kenyan clients through an offshore (tier-3) entity — which changes your compensation cover and complaint route. The table below lists 9 register-checked licence numbers so you can verify each firm yourself (CMA, CMA (Kenya), CIMA, FSA (Seychelles)). On the numbers, the lowest all-in cost option here is Pepperstone, and the highest leverage available to Kenyan traders is 2000:1 (RoboForex).
Regulator
CMA
Kenya runs a licensing regime: a firm needs a CMA online foreign-exchange broker licence to solicit Kenyan clients, and the CMA has directed unlicensed platforms to stop onboarding Kenyans. Several global brokers operate CMA-licensed Kenyan entities — verify the licence on the CMA register.
Leverage rules
The CMA does not publish one fixed retail cap in the regulations — it sets, and can revise, the leverage its licensed brokers may offer. Confirm current limits with the CMA-licensed entity before funding.
Common deposit methods
M-Pesa / mobile money, Card, Bank transfer (EFT/RTGS)
Which legal entity onboards a Kenyan client
The brand you see isn't always the entity on your client agreement. These are the entities our checks map to Kenyan clients, with the licence number to verify on the official register. 9 here route you offshore — protection differs.
Entity mapping from our register checks — shown to illustrate how the onboarding entity shifts by country. Yours may differ; always confirm the legal entity on the signup screen and the official register before depositing. Informational only, not financial advice.
Trading costs for Kenyan traders
Lowest all-in cost on our scan: Pepperstone. Indicative figures — verify the live schedule before funding.
| Platform | All-in cost | Spread from | Commission | Min deposit | Withdrawal | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | $···· | 0 pips | $7/lot | $10 | Same – next day | 1000:1 |
| IC Markets | $···· | 0 pips | $7/lot | $200 | Same – next day | 500:1 |
| FP Markets | $···· | 0 pips | $6/lot | $100 | Within 1 day | 500:1 |
| Exness | $···· | 0 pips | $7/lot | $10 | Often instant | Unlimited |
| Tickmill | $···· | 0 pips | $6/lot | $100 | Same – next day | 1000:1 |
| Blueberry Markets | $···· | 0 pips | $7/lot | $100 | Same – next day | 500:1 |
| Fusion Markets | $···· | 0 pips | $4.5/lot | $0 | Under 1 hour (broker-stated) | — |
| ThinkMarkets | $$··· | 0 pips | $7/lot | $0 | 1–2 days | 500:1 |
| Vantage Markets | $$··· | 0 pips | $6/lot | $50 | Same – next day | 500:1 |
| VT Markets | $$··· | 0 pips | $6/lot | $100 | Same – next day | 500:1 |
| Eightcap | $$··· | 0 pips | $7/lot | $100 | 1–2 days (same-day cut-off) | 500:1 |
| Axi | $$··· | 0 pips | $7/lot | $0 | 1–3 days (bank transfers) | — |
| RoboForex | $$··· | 0 pips | $4/lot | $10 | Within hours | 2000:1 |
| PU Prime | $$··· | 0 pips | $7/lot | $50 | Reported instant | 1000:1 |
| StarTrader | $$··· | 0 pips | $6/lot | $50 | Within 24h | 500:1 |
| LiteFinance | $$··· | 0 pips | $5/lot | $50 | Within 24h | 1000:1 |
| XTB | $$··· | 0.5 pips | — | $0 | Same – next day | 30:1 |
| FXTM | $$$·· | 0.1 pips | $4/lot | $10 | Same – next day | 1000:1 |
| IG | $$$·· | 0.6 pips | — | $250 | 1–3 days (method-dependent) | Varies by entity |
| XM | $$$·· | 1.6 pips | — | $5 | 1–2 days | 1000:1 |
20 platforms available in Kenyan
Why this fits: Onboarded via Pepperstone Markets Kenya Limited (CMA 128) · Max leverage here: 1000:1
Why this fits: Onboarded via IC Markets (KE) Limited (CMA (Kenya)) · Max leverage here: 500:1
Why this fits: Onboarded via FP Markets Limited (CMA (Kenya)) · Max leverage here: 500:1
Why this fits: Accepts Kenyan clients · Max leverage here: 30:1 · Verify the account entity at signup
The FTSE-100 original — 17,000+ markets since 1974; entity and products vary sharply by country.
Why this fits: Accepts Kenyan clients · Max leverage here: Varies by entity · Verify the account entity at signup
Why this fits: Onboarded via Exness KE Limited (CMA (Kenya)) · Max leverage here: Unlimited
Why this fits: Accepts Kenyan clients · Max leverage here: 500:1 · Verify the account entity at signup
Why this fits: Onboarded via Vantage International Group Limited (CIMA 1383491) · Max leverage here: 500:1
Low-cost multi-entity broker favoured by scalpers and EAs; licences and protection vary by country.
Why this fits: Onboarded via Tickmill Ltd (FSA (Seychelles)) · Max leverage here: 1000:1
Why this fits: Onboarded via Exinity Capital East Africa Ltd (CMA 135) · Max leverage here: 1000:1
Why this fits: Accepts Kenyan clients · Max leverage here: 500:1 · Verify the account entity at signup
Why this fits: Onboarded via Gleneagle Securities Pty Limited (VFSC 40256) · Max leverage here: —
Why this fits: Onboarded via VT Markets Ltd (FSC GB23202269) · Max leverage here: 500:1
Why this fits: Onboarded via Eightcap Global Limited (SCB SIA-F220) · Max leverage here: 500:1
Why this fits: Onboarded via AxiTrader LLC (FSA (SVG)) · Max leverage here: —
Why this fits: Onboarded via TPXMGLOBAL Kenya Limited (CMA (Kenya)) · Max leverage here: 1000:1
Why this fits: Onboarded via RoboForex Ltd (FSC 000138/7) · Max leverage here: 2000:1
A multi-entity CFD broker with education resources, webinars, broad market access and copy trading availability. Entity, leverage and product terms should be verified before depositing.
Why this fits: Onboarded via PU Prime Limited (FSA SD050) · Max leverage here: 1000:1
Why this fits: Onboarded via STARTRADER Financial Markets Limited (FSC GB24203371) · Max leverage here: 500:1
Why this fits: Accepts Kenyan clients · Max leverage here: 1000:1 · Verify the account entity at signup
We earn a commission if you open an account through our links — at no extra cost to you. It does not change our rankings. How we make money.
Trading in Kenya — questions
Which legal entity will onboard me as a Kenyan client?
Across the platforms that accept Kenyan clients, accounts are opened through entities under CMA, CMA (Kenya), CIMA, FSA (Seychelles), VFSC, FSC, SCB, FSA (SVG), FSA. 9 route Kenyan clients through an offshore (tier-3) entity — protection differs there. Local oversight is typically CMA. Always confirm the licence on the official register before depositing.
Which platform has the lowest cost in Kenya?
Of the 20 platforms available to Kenyan traders, Pepperstone has the lowest all-in cost on our scan (spreads from 0 pips, $7/lot commission, $10 minimum). Costs change with account type and instrument — verify the live schedule before funding.
What leverage can I use in Kenya?
The highest leverage available to Kenyan traders among these platforms is 2000:1 (RoboForex). The CMA does not publish one fixed retail cap in the regulations — it sets, and can revise, the leverage its licensed brokers may offer. Confirm current limits with the CMA-licensed entity before funding. Higher leverage increases both potential gains and losses.
How does Clarytrade pick these platforms?
We rank by our published 8-criteria method, filter to platforms that accept Kenyan clients, resolve the specific legal entity that would open your account, and weight affiliate commission at 0%.