Kenyan shilling eases slightly on persistent dollar demand

Kitco Media
By Reuters
Published:
Updated:
Reuters
NAIROBI, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Kenya's shilling eased slightly on Tuesday as persistent dollar demand from fuel importers and manufacturers outstripped foreign-currency supply that mostly came from tourism and flower farms, traders said. At 0937 GMT, commercial banks quoted the shilling at 127.20/40 per U.S. dollar - a new all-time low - compared with Monday's closing rate of 127.15/35. Kenya is asking up to a year to pay for imported oil rather than as soon as it is delivered to relieve pressure on the foreign exchange rate, the country's energy minister said on Monday. The East African nation's useable foreign exchange reserves have shrunk to less than enough to cover four months of imports of all kinds, which is a statutory requirement. The shilling has lost 3% against the greenback since the start of the year, according to Refinitiv data. (Reporting by Hereward Holland Editing by Alexander Winning)

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