Employ in Kenya with ease.
Remote makes employment in Kenya easy. With our localized contracts, easy invoice management, and best-in-class compliance, you can grow your global team with confidence.
Remote-Owned Local Entity
We own our own entity in the countries where we operate to shield your company from risk and provide you and your employees with the signature Remote experience.
Capital city
Nairobi
Currency
Kenyan shilling
(KSh, KES)Languages spoken
Swahili, English
Services available:
Facts & Stats
Kenya is famous for its scenic landscapes and vast wildlife reserves teeming with lions, wildebeests, crocodiles, buffaloes, hippos, and flamingoes — like a savanna straight from the Lion King.
Beyond the incredible biodiversity, Kenya is sub-Saharan Africa’s third-largest economy. Nairobi is one of the world’s fastest-growing cities, now a thriving metropolis and a key center for trade in East Africa. Kenya enjoys strong performance in agriculture, transport, energy, tourism, and the services industry, and further growth is expected to power the Kenyan economy in the years ahead.
Capital city
Nairobi
Currency
Kenyan shilling
(KSh, KES)Languages spoken
Swahili, English
Population size
47,564,296 (est. 2019)
Ease of doing business
Easy
Cost of living index
36.30 (2021)
Payroll frequency
Monthly
VAT - standard rate
16%
GDP - real growth rate
5.4 (2019)
Grow your team in Kenya with Remote
Looking to employ workers in Kenya? Companies hiring in Kenya must either own a legal entity in the country or work with a global employment solutions provider, usually one that provides employer of record services.
Remote can employ your team in Kenya on your behalf through our local legal entity in the country and handle payroll, benefits, taxes, and compliance for your Kenya team. You can also pay contractors now in Kenya with Remote.
Employing in Kenya
The Kenyan Constitution of 2010 and the revised Employment Act of 2012 spell out provisions for employee protections and workers’ rights for Kenya’s workforce of 23.7 million.
Employees in Kenya enjoy protections against discrimination based on age, religion, gender expression, and race.
Common questions that could come up during the hiring process include minimum wage, overtime rates, and guaranteed paid time off. Remote can help you offer a complete, competitive, and compliant benefits package to your employees in Kenya.
Minimum Wage
In Kenya, the government-mandated minimum wage is defined by several variables, such as the industry an employee is engaged in, geographical location, age, and skill level.
Typically, the Kenyan minimum wage ranges from 13,572.90 KES ($122.89) to as high as 30,627.45 KES ($277.30).
Payroll Cycle
For customers of Remote, all employee payments will be made in equal monthly installments on or before the last working day of each calendar month, payable in arrears.
Onboarding Time
We can help you get a new employee started in Kenya fast. The minimum onboarding time we need is only 2 working days.
Our team ensures your employees are onboarded and paid as quickly as possible while keeping your business compliant with all local employment legislation. The minimum onboarding time begins after the employee submits all required information onto the Remote platform. The onboarding timeline is also dependent upon registration with local authorities.
For all non-nationals of the country of employment, the Right to Work assessment (if applicable) will add three extra days to the total time to onboard. There may be extra time required if we need to follow-up on the right to work assessment.
Please note, payroll cut-off dates can impact the actual first day of employment. Remote has a payroll cut-off date of the 10th of the month unless otherwise specified.
Competitive benefits package in Kenya
At Remote, we’re obsessed with helping you craft the best possible employee experience for your team. We are leading the way in practicing “fair equity,” which means making sure employees everywhere have access to both the required and supplemental benefits they need to thrive (and that will allow you to attract the best local talent).
Our benefits packages in Kenya are tailored to fulfill the local needs of your employees. Typically, our packages contain some or all of the following benefits:
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Mental Health Support
- Pension or 401(K)
- Life and Disability Insurance
Calculate the cost to hire an employee
in Kenya
Taxes in Kenya
Learn how employment taxes affect your payroll and your employees’ paychecks in Kenya.
Social Security
A social security deduction of 6% is still pending legal ratification.
In the meantime, NSSF contributions are as per the provisions of the old Act:
KES 200 for employer
KES 200 for employee
Employer
1.5% - National Housing Development Fund (pending legal ratification)
Employee
1.5% - National Housing Development Fund (pending legal ratification)
150 – 1,700 KES - National Hospital Insurance Fund
Personal Income Tax Rates
150 KES - 0 – 5,999 KES
300 KES - 6,000- 7,999 KES
400 KES - 8,000- 11,999 KES
500 KES - 12,000- 14,999 KES
600 KES - 15,000- 19,999 KES
750 KES - 20,000- 24,999 KES
850 KES - 25,000- 29,999 KES
900 KES - 30,000- 34,999 KES
950 KES - 35,000- 39,999 KES
1,000 KES - 40,000- 44,999 KES
1,100 KES - 45,0000- 49,000 KES
1,200 KES - 50,000- 59,999 KES
1,300 KES - 60,000- 69,999 KES
1,400 KES - 70,000-79,999 KES
1,500 KES - 80,000- 89,999 KES
1,600 KES - 90,000- 99,999 KES
1,700 KES - 100,000 KES and above
Personal Income Tax Rates (Percentage Rates)
10% - Up to 288,000 KES
25% - 288,000 – 388,000 KES
30% - Above 388,000 KES
Kenya operates a dual taxation regime under which workers are either charged a flat rate on their income or a fixed percentage after they advance into certain income brackets.
Types of leave
Paid time off
After spending 12 months working with an employer, employees are entitled to 21 days of paid leave every year.
Public holidays
There are 13 annual public holidays in Kenya and if a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is designated a work-free day in lieu of the holiday.
Sick leave
After completing two months of engagement with an employer, workers are entitled to 14 days of paid leave annually, compensated at a rate of 100% of the normal salary for the first seven days of employment, and 50% for the remaining seven days.
Maternity leave
Female employees are entitled to 91 days of fully paid (at a rate equivalent to 100% of the normal salary) maternity leave, provided the mother-to-be notifies at least a week prior with the appropriate medical certification.
Paternity/Parental leave
Fathers have the right to take two weeks of paid paternity leave off work to cater to an expecting or postpartum partner.
Other leave
- Compassionate leave: Kenyan labor law provides for compassionate leave employees can request in event of bereavement, misfortune, hospitalization of dependents, etc.
- Adoption: Adoptive parents are entitled to a mandatory leave period equivalent to the provision available to birth parents, as well one month’s of fully paid pre-adoptive leave before the decision is finalized, provided prior notice is delivered to the employer at least 14 days in advance.
Employment termination
Termination process
Employee contracts can only be terminated if a just cause is established, such as dishonesty, negligence, fraud, after a hearing where the employee in question is permitted to seek representation by trade union staff, etc.
Notice period
A written notice of termination must be provided to an employee at least 28 days prior to the decision, or payment can be made in lieu of notice.
Severance pay
Severance payments are only mandated when an employee is laid due off to redundancy and are calculated at a rate equal to 15 days’ wages for every year of employment.
Probation periods
Probation periods last up to six months, during which an employer can terminate an employee with seven days’ notice or payment in lieu of notice.
