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.
Employer costs are modest, around 7%, 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.
*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.