Kenya is East Africa's leading talent hub, with a young, English-speaking workforce and recently reformed social levies. All-in employer cost runs around 1.06x the gross salary. Here is what to know before your first Kenyan hire.
Employment runs under the Employment Act, with written contracts and enrolment in the national pension, health, and housing schemes, several of which changed in 2023-24.
Minimum wages are set by sector and region through wage orders*, so the figure depends on the role and location.
Monthly payroll. A 13th-month or bonus is customary in some sectors but not statutory.
Around 12 public-holiday days a year.
Written terms are required. Probation is up to six months, extendable once by agreement.
Employer costs are modest, around 6%, across the reformed pension (NSSF), the health levy, and the affordable-housing levy.
The NSSF contribution is rising in tiers under the 2013 Act, and the health and housing levies were introduced or changed in 2023-24, so rates are in transition.
Employees pay PAYE income tax plus their share of the levies, withheld at source. Withholding is the employer's responsibility, which under EOR means ours.
At least 21 working days of paid leave a year under the Employment Act.
Three months of paid maternity leave, funded by the employer.
Two weeks of paid paternity leave.
At least seven days at full pay and seven at half pay a year after two months of service.
Notice is generally 28 days for monthly-paid staff, and dismissal requires a valid reason and a fair procedure.
On redundancy, severance of 15 days' pay per year of service applies, on top of notice.
Up to six months, extendable once by agreement, with shorter notice during it.
A contractor working like an employee can be reclassified, with back statutory contributions and entitlements.
*All figures are estimates from public sources (2025-26), pending ops verification - same basis as the EOR cost calculator. Not tax or legal advice.
Compliant Kenyan employment contract, payroll, and statutory contributions, handled. One invoice, flat $399 per month.