Kenya

• New Year’s Day
• New Year Holiday
• Good Friday
• Easter Monday
• Idd ul-Fitr
• Labour Day
• Madaraka Day
• Idd-Ul-Adha
• Moi Day
• Mashujaa Day
• Jamhuri Day
• Christmas Day
• Boxing Day

Working Hours

Employees can work up to 52 hours per week, though it is more common for employees to work 45-hour weeks.

Minimum Wage

KES 13,500 to 34,302.74, depending on the industry and skill level.

Employee Tax

Annual income	Tax rate
Up to KES 288,000	10%
KES 288,001 - 388,000	25%
More than KES 388,000	30%
Social security contribution	KES 200 per month
National hospital insurance fund (NHIF) contribution	Up to KES 1,700 per month*
Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF)	2.75%

*Actual amount depends on the employee’s salary.

Bonuses

There are no statutory bonus schemes in Kenya.

All contracts that last more than three months must be issued in writing. It must include certain information, including:

• Employer and employee details
• Job title and responsibilities
• Salary and leave entitlement
• Workplace
• Start date and contract length (if applicable)
• Working hours
• Notice period for termination
• Any applicable collective agreements

Fixed-term contracts are permitted in Kenya.

Annual Leave

Minimum of 21 days’ paid holiday, after one year of service (this is calculated pro-rata throughout the first year of service).

Sick Leave

Employees are entitled to sick leave with pay, after two consecutive months of service. They can take up to seven days with full pay and seven days with half-pay per year. A medical certificate must be provided.

Parental Leave

• Maternity leave: at least three months' fully paid leave.
• Paternity leave: two weeks' paid leave.

Termination Process

Employers in Kenya can terminate a contract, provided they give notice and/or compensation in line with legal requirements.

Summary dismissal is permitted in instances of serious misconduct. This includes:

• Absenteeism
• Criminal acts
• Intoxication
• Disobedience

The employer should make a written report to the district labour office, explaining the reasons for dismissal.

Severance Pay

There is no statutory right to severance pay in Kenya.

Under Mauve Group Employer of Record (EOR) solution, clients and their international workers benefit from access to Mauve’s Global Master Insurance Programme—a market-leading, unified corporate insurance framework that connects all Mauve entities with two trusted providers. As part of our comprehensive global Employer of Record services, this insurance offering supports companies employing staff overseas by ensuring full compliance with local legal requirements while safeguarding their workforce.

The programme provides international insurance coverage through a combination of the master policy and jurisdiction-specific local policies, where required by law. This structure ensures seamless alignment with local employment laws—an essential element of maintaining global regulatory compliance within any international EOR payroll arrangement.

Coverage includes:

• Employer’s Liability and Public Liability – £10,000,000 combined limit
• Professional Indemnity – £5,000,000 limit
• Worker’s Compensation – Limit varies based on the employee’s country of work

This solution is ideal for organizations seeking to streamline global employee management while ensuring every EOR employee is protected and fully compliant in their respective jurisdictions.

For tailored advice on EOR insurance coverage, payroll compliance, or global compliance services in your target country, get in touch with Mauve’s expert international HR consultancy team.