Nairobi, July 21 -- Money sent home by Kenyans living and working abroad recorded its steepest first-half decline since the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis, reflecting the impact of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, a new US tax on outbound money transfers and tighter labour policies in Saudi Arabia.

Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) data shows diaspora remittances fell 3.03 percent to $2.442 billion (Sh315.75 billion) in the six months to June, down from $2.518 billion (Sh325.58 billion) during the same period last year. The decline wiped out $76.4 million (about Sh10 billion) in foreign exchange inflows.

It marks the sharpest January-to-June contraction since 2009, when the global financial crisis triggered widespread ...