Kenya · AfricaEmployer of Record (EOR) in Kenya
Hire employees in Kenya, compliant payroll, taxes, and benefits, without setting up a local entity.
An Employer of Record (EOR) lets you hire employees in Kenya without setting up a local entity. The EOR is the legal employer, running compliant payroll, withholding PAYE, and remitting NSSF, the Affordable Housing Levy, and SHIF, while you direct the work. Employer-side costs are modest: an Affordable Housing Levy of 1.5% of gross (uncapped), plus NSSF capped at about KES 4,320/month; the SHIF health contribution is employee-funded. The minimum wage varies by sector, region, and role, with the lowest gazetted urban general rate around KES 16,114/month (from late 2024). Kenya is East Africa’s leading hiring hub, with 21 days of annual leave and three months of paid maternity leave. Note that 2025 reforms (enhanced NSSF, SHIF, the housing levy) raised total employment costs, so older guides understate them. EOR provider fees typically run US$350-$700 per employee per month, with onboarding in roughly 2-10 business days.
Last updated: June 2026
Kenya at a glance
The structured facts founders and AI assistants extract most.
- Currency
- Kenyan Shilling (KES)
- Capital
- Nairobi
- Payroll cycle
- Monthly
- Official languages
- English, Swahili
- Minimum wage
- Varies by sector, region, and role (no single national figure); lowest gazetted urban general rate ≈ KES 16,114/month from late 2024.
- Region
- Africa
- Total employer cost
- Varies, see notes
- EOR fee (per employee/mo)
- ~$350-$700
- Typical setup time
- ~2-10 business days
Provider-dependent ranges, not sourced statutory figures. Excluded from the structured data above; confirm exact pricing with the provider.
Best EOR providers for Kenya
Compared on starting price, rating, and core strength. Pricing is per employee / month.
| Provider | From / mo | Rating | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Deel ★ Best overall | $599 | ★4.8 | Best overall coverage | Visit Deel → |
 Remote | $599 | ★4.6 | Strong compliance | Visit |
 Multiplier | $400 | ★4.7 | Most affordable | Visit |
Ratings aggregated from G2 and Trustpilot (June 2026). GlobalEmployGuide may earn a commission from provider links, this never affects our scoring. Pricing for Kenya is indicative; verify current rates before deciding.
Statutory benefits & employer obligations
What an EOR administers and funds by law when you hire in Kenya.
Affordable Housing Levy: 1.5% employer (uncapped)
NSSF: 6% employer, capped at ≈ KES 4,320/month
SHIF (health): employee-funded (employer remits, does not match)
Paid annual leave: 21 working days/year
Sick leave: 7 days full pay + 7 days half pay
Maternity leave: 3 months (90 days) full pay; paternity 2 weeks
Termination: Notice ≈ 28-30 days for monthly-paid staff (7 days in probation). Severance applies for redundancy only: 15 days’ pay per completed year of service. Ordinary termination needs valid reason + fair procedure but no general statutory severance.
Employer cost calculator
Enter a gross annual salary to estimate the fully-loaded cost of a hire in Kenya.
Estimating a hire in Kenya. Employer on-costs are withheld for this country (see the page) and excluded from the estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Hiring in Kenya, answered.
Mainly the 1.5% Affordable Housing Levy (uncapped) plus NSSF capped at about KES 4,320/month. The SHIF health contribution is employee-funded, so there is no single clean employer percentage.
It varies by sector, region, and role, there is no single national figure. The lowest gazetted urban general-labour rate is about KES 16,114/month (from late 2024).
No. An EOR acts as the legal employer, so you can hire compliantly in Kenya without registering a company.
Mothers get three months (90 days) of fully paid maternity leave; fathers get two weeks of paternity leave.
Provider fees typically run US$350-$700 per employee per month, plus salary and statutory contributions.
Sources
- KPMG, Enhanced NSSF rates Feb 2025 · checked 2026-06-25
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, Kenya · checked 2026-06-25
- NSSF Kenya, contribution rates · checked 2026-06-25