Trading from Kenya: what is different
Kenya is one of the most mobile-first markets in the world, and the AlphaFX Pro platform is built for that: it runs in the browser and can be installed to your home screen like an app. Funding is in USDT, not M-Pesa, so you deposit from a crypto wallet or exchange account.
East Africa Time is UTC+3 all year. The London open is at 11:00 from November to March and 10:00 from April to October; the London–New York overlap runs from about 16:00 to 20:00 in winter.
Kenya imports all of its fuel, so oil prices feed straight into local prices. Brent (UKOIL) and WTI (USOIL) are both on the platform.
Forex market hours in Kenya
The forex market is open 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday, passing from Asia to Europe to North America. These are the main sessions converted to local time in Kenya.
| Session | Local time, Nov–Mar | Local time, Apr–Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo session | 03:00–12:00 | 03:00–12:00 |
| London session | 11:00–20:00 | 10:00–19:00 |
| New York session | 16:00–01:00 | 15:00–00:00 |
| London–New York overlap | 16:00–20:00 | 15:00–19:00 |
| Weekly open | Monday 01:00 | Monday 00:00 |
| Weekly close | Saturday 01:00 | Saturday 00:00 |
The busiest hours for the major pairs and gold are usually the London–New York overlap. Spreads tend to be widest around the daily rollover and in the first hour after the weekly open.
Markets to watch from Kenya
- XAU/USD (gold) — the most traded metal, priced in dollars.
- EUR/USD and GBP/USD — from 11:00 Nairobi time in winter.
- Brent crude (UKOIL) — the global oil benchmark.
- Bitcoin (BTCUSD) and Ether (ETHUSD) CFDs — trade the price without holding coins.
Accounts and funding
| Account | Minimum deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Cent | $10 (balance in USC) | From 1.4 pips | None |
| Standard | $100 | From 1.0 pips | None |
| Pro | $1,000 | From 0.6 pips | None |
| Raw ECN | $5,000 | From 0.0 pips | $7 per lot |
Accounts are held in US dollars and funded in USDT on BNB Smart Chain (BEP20) or Tron (TRC20). There is no Kenyan shilling conversion inside your account; any conversion happens wherever you buy or sell USDT. Identity verification is completed once, before your first withdrawal.
Regulation and your responsibility
AlphaFX Pro is an international broker and is not licensed by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA). Our registration in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in progress. We do not provide investment advice or a local office in Kenya.
Before opening an account, make sure the law in Kenya allows you to trade CFDs with a broker based outside the country, and check any rules on moving money abroad. If you are not sure, ask us before you deposit.
Frequently asked questions
Can I deposit with M-Pesa?
No. Deposits and withdrawals are made in USDT on the BEP20 or TRC20 networks.
What is the best time to trade forex in Kenya?
The London–New York overlap, about 16:00 to 20:00 Nairobi time from November to March (15:00 to 19:00 from April to October), when the main pairs and gold are most liquid.
What is the minimum deposit from Kenya?
The Standard Cent account opens from $10, funded in USDT, with the balance held in US cents ($10 = 1,000 USC). Standard opens from $100, Pro from $1,000 and Raw ECN from $5,000.
Risk warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. This page is general information, not investment advice. Read the Risk Disclosure.