Kenya is located in the Eastern part of the African Continent, bordered by Ethiopia and South Sudan to the North, Uganda to the West, Tanzania to the South, Somalia to the North East, and the Indian Ocean to the South East. The country boasts numerous unique tourist attractions and beautiful landscapes ranging from open Savannah, coastal beaches, and river deltas. Kenya lies on the equator and has a pleasant, tropical climate, but there are large regional climatic variations influenced by several factors including altitude.
The economy of Kenya is market-based with a few state enterprises. Major industries include agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, manufacturing, energy, tourism, and financial services.
*Please note that the official currency is the currency of remuneration when employed through WorkMotion in Kenya.
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Kenya is located in the Eastern part of the African Continent, bordered by Ethiopia and South Sudan to the North, Uganda to the West, Tanzania to the South, Somalia to the North East, and the Indian Ocean to the South East. The country boasts numerous unique tourist attractions and beautiful landscapes ranging from open Savannah, coastal beaches, and river deltas. Kenya lies on the equator and has a pleasant, tropical climate, but there are large regional climatic variations influenced by several factors including altitude.
The economy of Kenya is market-based with a few state enterprises. Major industries include agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, manufacturing, energy, tourism, and financial services.
*Please note that the official currency is the currency of remuneration when employed through WorkMotion in Kenya.
The national holidays mentioned below are valid for the year 2025.
| January 1 | New Year’s Day | |
| April 1 | Idd ul-Fitr | Movable - As per the Islamic Lunar calendar |
| April 18 | Good Friday | Movable - Friday before Easter |
| April 21 | Easter Monday | Movable - The first Sunday after the first full moon following the northern spring equinox |
| May 1 | Labor Day | |
| June 2 | Madaraka Day | In lieu of June 1 |
| June 7 | Idd ul Azha | Movable - As per the Islamic Lunar calendar - Only for Muslims |
| October 10 | Mazingira Day | |
| October 20 | Mashujaa Day | |
| October 20 | Diwali | Only for Hindus |
| December 12 | Independence Day/Jamhuri Day | |
| December 25 | Christmas | |
| December 26 | Boxing Day |
The approximate time for sharing the contract with an employee in Kenya is 5 business days assuming no special requests or changes to our standard employment contract. Any such requests or changes would need to undergo internal and external review, directly leading to a time delay.
NOTE: This number is subject to change and is only an estimation of the Contract Sharing Time. The estimated Contract Sharing Time begins from the moment that WorkMotion has received all required information from both the client and the employee.
The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) offers social protection to Kenyan employees. Under the new National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Act, employees are entitled to enjoy the following benefits:
|
Benefits |
Employer Contribution |
Employee Contribution |
|---|---|---|
|
NSSF |
6%* |
6%* |
|
National Hospital Insurance Fund |
– |
Ksh. 150 to Khs. 1,700 depending on salary |
|
Accident Insurance (WIBA) |
0.1% – 0.2% |
– |
|
Training Levy (NITA) |
Ksh. 50 |
– |
|
Housing Levy |
1.5% |
1.5% |
*NSSF Pension contributions are 12% of the pensionable earnings; 6% from the employee and 6% from the employer subject to an upper limit of KES 72,000 in 2025.
The general working hours are 52 per week, but the normal working hours usually consist of 45 hours of work per week, Monday to Friday eight hours each. Working hours are five hours on Saturday under the special Orders for different sectors subsidiary to the Regulations of Wages and Conditions of Employment Act.
Overtime plus time worked in normal hours per week may not exceed 116 hours in total in any period of two consecutive weeks. For night workers, the overtime limit is 144 hours per week, including normal working hours.
Overtime is payable at the hourly rate of 150% of regular pay during weekdays and at the rate of twice the basic hourly rate on Sundays and public holidays.
A probationary contract is defined as a contract of employment, which is of no more than 12 months duration or part thereof, and is in writing and expressly states that it is for a probationary period. The probation period must not be more than six months but upon agreement with the employee, it may be extended for a further period of not more than six months.
The length of the notice period may be set in the employment contract by the mutual consent of the employer and worker, provided that the period is more than that which is provided by the Act.
| Nature of the Contract | Notice Period |
| Daily wage contract | No prior notice required |
| Weekly/two-week basis contracts | 1 or 2 weeks respectively or payment of an equivalent in lieu of notice |
| Monthly basis contract | 28 days notice in writing or payment of the equivalent of a month’s salary in lieu of notice. |
| Probationary contract | 7 days’ notice or payment of equivalent of 7 days’ pay in lieu of notice. |
The general working hours are 52 per week, but the normal working hours usually consist of 45 hours of work per week, Monday to Friday eight hours each. Working hours are five hours on Saturday under the special Orders for different sectors subsidiary to the Regulations of Wages and Conditions of Employment Act.
Overtime plus time worked in normal hours per week may not exceed 116 hours in total in any period of two consecutive weeks. For night workers, the overtime limit is 144 hours per week, including normal working hours.
Overtime is payable at the hourly rate of 150% of regular pay during weekdays and at the rate of twice the basic hourly rate on Sundays and public holidays.
A probationary contract is defined as a contract of employment, which is of no more than 12 months duration or part thereof, and is in writing and expressly states that it is for a probationary period. The probation period must not be more than six months but upon agreement with the employee, it may be extended for a further period of not more than six months.
The length of the notice period may be set in the employment contract by the mutual consent of the employer and worker, provided that the period is more than that which is provided by the Act.
| Nature of the Contract | Notice Period |
| Daily wage contract | No prior notice required |
| Weekly/two-week basis contracts | 1 or 2 weeks respectively or payment of an equivalent in lieu of notice |
| Monthly basis contract | 28 days notice in writing or payment of the equivalent of a month’s salary in lieu of notice. |
| Probationary contract | 7 days’ notice or payment of equivalent of 7 days’ pay in lieu of notice. |
The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) offers social protection to Kenyan employees. Under the new National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Act, employees are entitled to enjoy the following benefits:
|
Benefits |
Employer Contribution |
Employee Contribution |
|---|---|---|
|
NSSF |
6%* |
6%* |
|
National Hospital Insurance Fund |
– |
Ksh. 150 to Khs. 1,700 depending on salary |
|
Accident Insurance (WIBA) |
0.1% – 0.2% |
– |
|
Training Levy (NITA) |
Ksh. 50 |
– |
|
Housing Levy |
1.5% |
1.5% |
*NSSF Pension contributions are 12% of the pensionable earnings; 6% from the employee and 6% from the employer subject to an upper limit of KES 72,000 in 2025.
