The value of unclaimed financial assets in Kenya rose to a record KSh 5.18 billion in 2025, highlighting the growing amount of money lying idle as fewer owners come forward to claim it.
Unclaimed assets include dormant bank accounts, unclaimed dividends or shares, unclaimed insurance benefits, retirement benefits, utility deposits, and unpaid wages or salaries.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Economic Survey 2026 shows that funds held by the Unclaimed Financial Assets Authority (UFAA) increased from KSh 4,268.9 million in 2024.
Unclaimed Assets Hit Ksh 5.18 Billion as Fewer Kenyans Move to Claim Refunds
Data from the survey shows that the banking sector accounted for the largest share of unclaimed financial assets at 70.4 percent, followed by the information and communication sector, which accounted for 14.9 percent of the total unclaimed assets received during the year.
Banks hold the bulk of the funds at KSh 3.65 billion, while the information and telecommunications sector accounts for a significant KSh 771.2 million. Listed companies hold KSh 474.2 million.
Insurance firms account for KSh 139.7 million, while SACCOs hold KSh 40.4 million.
Pension-related unclaimed assets remain relatively low at KSh 1.9 million, while other categories collectively account for KSh 106.4 million.
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Number of Claimants Decline
Despite the increase in accumulated funds, the number of claimants dropped by 32.7 percent to 5,014 in the 2024/25 financial year, down from 7,445 in 2023/24.
Data on claims and reunification of unclaimed financial assets between the 2020/21 and 2024/25 financial years shows that the number of claimants rose from 5,844 in 2020/21 to a peak of 8,111 in 2021/22 before declining in subsequent years.
In 2022/23, claimants fell to 6,453, then rose again to 7,445 in 2023/24.
Over the same period, the value of assets reunified to claimants declined by 1.2 percent to KSh 427.5 million in the 2024/25 financial year.
The amount of assets reunited with rightful owners also showed mixed performance over the period. KSh 307.9 million was paid out in 2020/21, rising significantly to KSh 604.9 million in 2021/22.
However, reunification dropped to KSh 467 million in 2022/23 and further declined to KSh 432.5 million in 2023/24.
Also Read: How Kenyans Can Claim Unclaimed Financial Assets from UFAA
Kenyans who may have unclaimed financial assets can verify their status through the claims process managed by the UFAA.
The first step is to search whether one has any unclaimed financial assets by visiting the UFAA website and using its online search tool. Users must enter their ID number or name to look up the database.
Once a match is identified, claimants must prepare the necessary supporting documents to proceed with verification and processing of the claim.
