The Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority (UFAA) has reported that unclaimed financial assets in Kenya have exceeded Sh100 billion for the first time, reaching Sh115 billion as of December 31, 2025.
The figure includes dormant bank deposits, unclaimed shares and dividends, unpaid insurance benefits, forgotten M-Pesa wallet balances, matured but unredeemed treasury bills and bonds, abandoned salaries, pensions and other financial entitlements held by banks, insurance companies, saccos, capital markets intermediaries and government entities.
UFAA Chief Executive Officer Veronicah Mwaura said the record high reflects both improved reporting by institutions and the growing scale of financial exclusion and forgetfulness among Kenyans. “Many Kenyans open accounts, buy shares or leave small balances in M-Pesa and then forget about them for years,” Mwaura said. “Others pass away without updating next-of-kin information, leaving funds unclaimed. The rise to Sh115 billion shows we must do more to reunite people with their money.”
The largest portion of unclaimed assets remains in the banking sector, where dormant accounts—those with no customer-initiated activity for three years or more—continue to accumulate interest and fees. Banks are required to transfer such funds to UFAA after ten years of inactivity, but many institutions now proactively report earlier under the Unclaimed Financial Assets Act.
M-Pesa and other mobile money platforms contributed a growing share, with dormant wallets and unclaimed sender-to-receiver transfers adding billions. “Mobile money has brought financial inclusion, but it has also created new categories of unclaimed assets,” Mwaura noted. “Small balances left after someone changes a SIM card or passes away often go unnoticed until years later.”
Capital markets regulators reported significant unclaimed dividends from listed companies, many belonging to shareholders who have lost contact details or whose heirs are unaware of inherited shares. Insurance companies also transferred substantial unclaimed maturity benefits and death claims.
UFAA has intensified public awareness campaigns, including radio announcements, social media drives and partnerships with Huduma Centres to help claimants search for and recover funds. The authority maintains an online portal where individuals can search by name, ID number or company name to check for unclaimed assets.
“We have reunited over Sh4.5 billion with rightful owners since UFAA began operations,” Mwaura said. “But Sh115 billion still sits unclaimed. Many of these funds belong to ordinary Kenyans—small savers, pensioners, widows, orphans—who could really use the money for education, medical bills or business startup.”
To claim funds, individuals must provide proof of identity, relationship to the original owner (for deceased estates) and evidence linking them to the asset. UFAA verifies claims before releasing money, with a turnaround time averaging 60 days.
The authority has also strengthened enforcement, fining institutions that fail to report unclaimed assets on time. “We are working with the Central Bank, Capital Markets Authority, Insurance Regulatory Authority and Communications Authority to ensure full compliance,” Mwaura added.
Financial inclusion advocates welcomed the record figure as evidence of deeper penetration of formal financial services but warned that high unclaimed balances signal ongoing challenges in financial literacy, record-keeping and succession planning. “Many Kenyans still do not update nominee details or inform families about accounts,” said Sheila Masiga of Transparency International Kenya. “Public education on estate planning and regular account checks is urgently needed.”
The UFAA has urged all Kenyans to check for unclaimed assets through its website or Huduma Centres. “Your money is waiting,” Mwaura said. “Do not let it sit idle—claim it and put it to good use.”
As the figure surpasses Sh115 billion, UFAA says it will continue aggressive outreach and enforcement to ensure more funds are returned to rightful owners in the coming year.
