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Payroll in Kenya

Updated on:
16 Jan, 2024
Employ contractors and employees in 160+ countries
Get started
EOR in 
Kenya
Monthly
Annually
Pay monthly at a discounted rate with a 12-month commitment
(Save upto 15%)
$
269
/month
(billed monthly)
Start Hiring Now
Employ contractors and employees in 160+ countries
EOR in 
Kenya
Offer banner
Monthly
$
299
/month
(billed annually)
Annually
Pay monthly at a discounted rate with a 12-month commitment
$
269
/month
(billed monthly)

Table of Content

select-drop-down-arrow

Payroll in Kenya 

Do you want to expand your business operations globally? Have you considered hiring employees or contractors in Kenya? You could discover a whole new world of talent with an international hiring strategy. 

Hiring globally can be a daunting and extensive learning curve, though. There are tons of benefits to hiring in Kenya, but your business must understand the payroll process before you start. 

Of course, you could save yourself the headache — and time you would spend figuring out how to navigate payroll in Kenya — by partnering with a payroll service provider like Skuad. Keep reading if you want to learn more about Kenya payroll processes and how Skuad can help you hire in Kenya faster, easier, and for a fraction of the price of going it alone.

What does the payroll process in Kenya involve? 

The payroll process in Kenya is similar to the workflow you’re probably already used to. That said, there might be some pretty significant differences around Kenyan payroll laws, tax percentages, and working hours, which we’ll discuss later in this guide. 

To bring Kenyan workers on your payroll, you’ll need to:

  • Collect the new hire’s information: When you hire a new worker, whether they are a contractor or an employee, you have to collect the necessary information. Employers must withhold income, national hospital fund, national social security fund, and national housing development fund taxes for each worker. 
  • Calculate gross pay: Gross pay is the amount of pay owed to your employees and contractors in Kenya without any deductions taken out yet. This is calculated by hours worked and rate of pay. 
  • Calculate net pay: Net pay is the worker’s gross pay with taxes and benefits taken out. This is the amount you must pay your employees and contractors. 
  • Pay your worker: You must follow Kenya payroll laws to pay workers on time each month. Your business must keep accurate payroll records, too. 
  • Submit taxes and deductions to the proper agencies: Employers are responsible for submitting the taxes taken out to the proper authorities. There are four regulatory agencies in Kenya to report to. 

The steps appear quite straightforward when listed on paper, but there’s a range of nuances and laws employers must follow to do business legally in Kenya.

Did you know employers have to submit income taxes to the Kenya Income Authority monthly? Or that employers have to submit contributions on behalf of employees and the business to the National Social Security Fund no later than the 15th of the following month? 

Taking the time needed to learn employment and labor laws in Kenya will be a costly process. If you partner with Skuad, you can alleviate the pressure and stress by letting us handle the payroll process while remaining 100% compliant with Kenya laws.  

Do you want to learn more about Skuad’s payroll services in Kenya? Get in touch with the team today.

One platform to grow your global team

Hire and pay talent globally, the hassle -free way with Skuad

Talk to an experteor pattern

What do you need to know about payroll in Kenya? 

There are several things employers must understand before processing payroll in Kenya. There are laws and expectations around the following:

  • Minimum wage
  • Overtime
  • Working hours
  • Payroll cycles
  • Leave entitlement
  • Severance pay.

We’ll discuss each of these in further detail below. 

Kenya payroll basics 

The currency in Kenya is the Kenyan Shilling (KES). 1 KES is the equivalent of .0087 USD — or to flip that so it’s easier to get your head around, 1 USD = ~115 KES. Kenyan employees are paid in a monthly payroll cycle with payments on the last day of the month. Casual workers are expected to be paid daily. 

Working hours in Kenya 

Kenya has a few different rules about working hours. While the standard workweek has 52 hours, most companies cap it at 45. For daytime employees, the maximum amount of work for two weeks is 116 hours.

Employees who work night shifts are limited to 60 hours weekly. And the maximum for two weeks is 144 hours.

Kenya does have collective bargaining agreements in some sectors that could impact the working hours. 

Overtime rules in Kenya 

Overtime is paid at 150% of hourly rates unless it is otherwise noted in the employment contract. If an employer asks a worker to work overtime on a public holiday or weekend, 200% of regular pay rates are expected. 

Minimum wage requirements in Kenya 

The minimum wage in Kenya varies based on the industry and the geographic location. The range is typically between 13,572.90 KES and 30,627.45 KES.

It’s important to understand the minimum wage requirements for your specific business. There are serious consequences for companies that pay below the minimum wage.

Speak to one of the Skuad team and we’ll clear up any confusion.

Employment leave entitlement in Kenya 

Annual leave

Employees in Kenya are entitled to a minimum of 21 paid days off after one year of employment. Kenya also observes 13 paid public holidays:

  • New Year's Day Sat, 1 Jan 2022
  • Good Friday Fri, 15 Apr 2022
  • Easter Monday Mon, 18 Apr 2022
  • Labour Day Mon, 2 May 2022
  • Eid al-Fitr 2–3 May 2022 (tbc)
  • Madaraka Day Wed, 1 Jun 2022
  • Eid al-Adha 9–10 Jul 2022 (tbc)
  • Huduma Day Mon, 10 Oct 2022
  • Mashujaa Day Thu, 20 Oct 2022
  • Jamhuri Day Mon, 12 Dec 2022
  • Christmas Day Mon, 26 Dec 2022
  • Utamaduni Day Mon, 26 Dec 2022

Once a worker has been with an employer for two months, they are entitled to 7 days of 100% paid sick leave. They can also take an additional 7 days at 50% of the normal pay rate. 

Maternity and paternity leave

Maternity leave for pregnant employees is three months of 100% pay. Workers must give a one-week notice before taking it. In the case of adoption, workers are also entitled to three months of 100% pay. In these situations, the worker must provide a two-week notice.

Paternal leave for birth or adoption is two weeks of paid leave. Parents preparing to adopt a child can receive a full month of paid leave with the proper documentation and notice. 

Severance pay in Kenya 

Severance pay is only required in Kenya in the case of redundancy. For those workers, employers are required to pay 15 days of severance pay for every year of employment.

Kenya payroll taxes and deductions 

Four authorities govern payroll in Kenya. Employers are expected to make contributions and take out taxes on workers.

The authorities are as follows: 

Employer contributions include:

  • 5% NSSF contribution with a maximum of 200 KES monthly 
  • 1.5% toward the National Housing Development Fund 
  • 50 KES per employee

Employee contributions include:

  • 5% toward the NSSF
  • 1.5% toward the National Housing Development Fund 
  • 150 to 1,700 KES for the NHIF for employees making more than 100,000 KES monthly
  • 10-30% income tax

Income tax brackets are as follows:

  • 10% for employees making up to 24,000 KES monthly 
  • 20% for employees making up to 32,333 KES monthly 
  • 30% for employees making more than 32,333 KES monthly

It’s crucial to take out the correct amount of taxes and pay them to the proper authorities on time. Connect with Skuad today to let us help you with your payroll in Kenya.

Payroll compliance in Kenya

As an employer, you must understand and follow the rules listed above. Failing to do so can result in penalties and fines with Kenyan authorities.

The Kenya Revenue Authority’s website lists several penalties for late filings, failure to file, and failure to take deductions. Offenses vary in penalty amounts but tend to be between 5-10% of the amount due. 

Don’t risk making a bad impression with regulatory authorities in Kenya! You can easily avoid the penalties and additional consequences by partnering with a payroll service provider. Speak to a Skuad representative today to learn more about the expectations of your business when paying Kenyan workers.

Payroll providers in Kenya: How to start building your team

There are a lot of risks and expenses associated with handling global payroll on your own. Not only will your business have to establish an entity in Kenya, but you’ll have to manage all related operations.

Businesses would have to find a legal professional based in Kenya to ensure all processes were compliant with relevant laws. They’d also have to remain updated with regulatory changes.

Managing confidential employee records can be intense when hiring globally. Businesses can save time and costs by working with a payroll service provider. A payroll service provider maintains confidential documents, ensures 100% compliance in all activities, and verifies salaries to meet local requirements.

Outsourcing a payroll service benefits the company in many ways. They have a partner available to help them scale their business while also reducing the stresses around legalities in another country. SMEs and startups can quickly scale operations with an outsourced provider.

Plus, you get access to benefits and systems that may not be available to a smaller business otherwise. 

Benefits of partnering with Skuad for payroll in Kenya

Skuad can help you pay contractors and employees in Kenya with an easy-to-use platform. Our system has extensive cybersecurity measures in place, so you can house employee information and employment contracts with no worries about confidentiality maintenance.

We offer a low-cost package to manage Kenyan payroll, benefits, and compliance for $199 per employee, per month. You’ll get a dedicated account manager to walk you through our platform so you can quickly learn how to approve time off, offer competitive benefits packages, and review local employment contracts written by Kenyan legal experts.

Are you ready to start hiring in Kenya?

Contact Skuad today to learn more about how we can help you scale globally. And book a free demo so you can see how easy our platform is for yourself.

Pay your remote talent in Kenya, without the hassle.

Say goodbye to the complexities of local laws, tax systems, international payroll, and contractor payments. Skuad takes care of everything in 160+ countries.

integrate

Automate payroll in 160+ countries

Put your global payroll on auto-pilot and analyze your payroll data in seconds. Pay your international team - accurately, securely, and quickly, with a single click.

automate

Integrate your payroll processes

Consolidate all things payroll on our unified platform. Reduce manual calculations on excel sheets and gain control of your payroll data. Ensure data integrity and consistency.

compliance

Enhance payroll compliance

Our global payroll infrastructure ensures compliance with local employment and tax regulations. We take the guesswork out of payroll compliance.

limited-offer-banner
EOR in 
Kenya
Monthly
Annually
Pay monthly at a discounted rate with a 12-month commitment
(Save upto 15%)
$
269
/month
(billed annually)
Start Hiring Now

Employ contractors and employees in 160+ countries

Get started
limited-offer-banner
EOR in 
Kenya
Monthly
$
299
/month
(billed annually)
Annually
Pay monthly at a discounted rate with a 12-month commitment
$
269
/month
(billed monthly)

Employ contractors and employees in 160+ countries

Table of Content

Pay your remote talent in Kenya, without the hassle.

Say goodbye to the complexities of local laws, tax systems, international payroll, and contractor payments. Skuad takes care of everything in 160+ countries.

Schedule a demo

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Loading.....

wdasds

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
integrate

Automate payroll in 160+ countries

Put your global payroll on auto-pilot and analyze your payroll data in seconds. Pay your international team - accurately, securely, and quickly, with a single click.

automate

Integrate your payroll processes

Consolidate all things payroll on our unified platform. Reduce manual calculations on excel sheets and gain control of your payroll data. Ensure data integrity and consistency.

compliance

Enhance payroll compliance

Our global payroll infrastructure ensures compliance with local employment and tax regulations. We take the guesswork out of payroll compliance.

country-img

Kenya

Payroll in Kenya 

Do you want to expand your business operations globally? Have you considered hiring employees or contractors in Kenya? You could discover a whole new world of talent with an international hiring strategy. 

Hiring globally can be a daunting and extensive learning curve, though. There are tons of benefits to hiring in Kenya, but your business must understand the payroll process before you start. 

Of course, you could save yourself the headache — and time you would spend figuring out how to navigate payroll in Kenya — by partnering with a payroll service provider like Skuad. Keep reading if you want to learn more about Kenya payroll processes and how Skuad can help you hire in Kenya faster, easier, and for a fraction of the price of going it alone.

What does the payroll process in Kenya involve? 

The payroll process in Kenya is similar to the workflow you’re probably already used to. That said, there might be some pretty significant differences around Kenyan payroll laws, tax percentages, and working hours, which we’ll discuss later in this guide. 

To bring Kenyan workers on your payroll, you’ll need to:

  • Collect the new hire’s information: When you hire a new worker, whether they are a contractor or an employee, you have to collect the necessary information. Employers must withhold income, national hospital fund, national social security fund, and national housing development fund taxes for each worker. 
  • Calculate gross pay: Gross pay is the amount of pay owed to your employees and contractors in Kenya without any deductions taken out yet. This is calculated by hours worked and rate of pay. 
  • Calculate net pay: Net pay is the worker’s gross pay with taxes and benefits taken out. This is the amount you must pay your employees and contractors. 
  • Pay your worker: You must follow Kenya payroll laws to pay workers on time each month. Your business must keep accurate payroll records, too. 
  • Submit taxes and deductions to the proper agencies: Employers are responsible for submitting the taxes taken out to the proper authorities. There are four regulatory agencies in Kenya to report to. 

The steps appear quite straightforward when listed on paper, but there’s a range of nuances and laws employers must follow to do business legally in Kenya.

Did you know employers have to submit income taxes to the Kenya Income Authority monthly? Or that employers have to submit contributions on behalf of employees and the business to the National Social Security Fund no later than the 15th of the following month? 

Taking the time needed to learn employment and labor laws in Kenya will be a costly process. If you partner with Skuad, you can alleviate the pressure and stress by letting us handle the payroll process while remaining 100% compliant with Kenya laws.  

Do you want to learn more about Skuad’s payroll services in Kenya? Get in touch with the team today.

Everything you need to know about payroll in Kenya

Talk to an expert

What do you need to know about payroll in Kenya? 

There are several things employers must understand before processing payroll in Kenya. There are laws and expectations around the following:

  • Minimum wage
  • Overtime
  • Working hours
  • Payroll cycles
  • Leave entitlement
  • Severance pay.

We’ll discuss each of these in further detail below. 

Kenya payroll basics 

The currency in Kenya is the Kenyan Shilling (KES). 1 KES is the equivalent of .0087 USD — or to flip that so it’s easier to get your head around, 1 USD = ~115 KES. Kenyan employees are paid in a monthly payroll cycle with payments on the last day of the month. Casual workers are expected to be paid daily. 

Working hours in Kenya 

Kenya has a few different rules about working hours. While the standard workweek has 52 hours, most companies cap it at 45. For daytime employees, the maximum amount of work for two weeks is 116 hours.

Employees who work night shifts are limited to 60 hours weekly. And the maximum for two weeks is 144 hours.

Kenya does have collective bargaining agreements in some sectors that could impact the working hours. 

Overtime rules in Kenya 

Overtime is paid at 150% of hourly rates unless it is otherwise noted in the employment contract. If an employer asks a worker to work overtime on a public holiday or weekend, 200% of regular pay rates are expected. 

Minimum wage requirements in Kenya 

The minimum wage in Kenya varies based on the industry and the geographic location. The range is typically between 13,572.90 KES and 30,627.45 KES.

It’s important to understand the minimum wage requirements for your specific business. There are serious consequences for companies that pay below the minimum wage.

Speak to one of the Skuad team and we’ll clear up any confusion.

Employment leave entitlement in Kenya 

Annual leave

Employees in Kenya are entitled to a minimum of 21 paid days off after one year of employment. Kenya also observes 13 paid public holidays:

  • New Year's Day Sat, 1 Jan 2022
  • Good Friday Fri, 15 Apr 2022
  • Easter Monday Mon, 18 Apr 2022
  • Labour Day Mon, 2 May 2022
  • Eid al-Fitr 2–3 May 2022 (tbc)
  • Madaraka Day Wed, 1 Jun 2022
  • Eid al-Adha 9–10 Jul 2022 (tbc)
  • Huduma Day Mon, 10 Oct 2022
  • Mashujaa Day Thu, 20 Oct 2022
  • Jamhuri Day Mon, 12 Dec 2022
  • Christmas Day Mon, 26 Dec 2022
  • Utamaduni Day Mon, 26 Dec 2022

Once a worker has been with an employer for two months, they are entitled to 7 days of 100% paid sick leave. They can also take an additional 7 days at 50% of the normal pay rate. 

Maternity and paternity leave

Maternity leave for pregnant employees is three months of 100% pay. Workers must give a one-week notice before taking it. In the case of adoption, workers are also entitled to three months of 100% pay. In these situations, the worker must provide a two-week notice.

Paternal leave for birth or adoption is two weeks of paid leave. Parents preparing to adopt a child can receive a full month of paid leave with the proper documentation and notice. 

Severance pay in Kenya 

Severance pay is only required in Kenya in the case of redundancy. For those workers, employers are required to pay 15 days of severance pay for every year of employment.

white-bullet

If your head is already spinning, leave your payroll activities in Kenya to Skuad.

Request demo

tilted-arrow

Kenya payroll taxes and deductions 

Four authorities govern payroll in Kenya. Employers are expected to make contributions and take out taxes on workers.

The authorities are as follows: 

Employer contributions include:

  • 5% NSSF contribution with a maximum of 200 KES monthly 
  • 1.5% toward the National Housing Development Fund 
  • 50 KES per employee

Employee contributions include:

  • 5% toward the NSSF
  • 1.5% toward the National Housing Development Fund 
  • 150 to 1,700 KES for the NHIF for employees making more than 100,000 KES monthly
  • 10-30% income tax

Income tax brackets are as follows:

  • 10% for employees making up to 24,000 KES monthly 
  • 20% for employees making up to 32,333 KES monthly 
  • 30% for employees making more than 32,333 KES monthly

It’s crucial to take out the correct amount of taxes and pay them to the proper authorities on time. Connect with Skuad today to let us help you with your payroll in Kenya.

white-bullet

It’s crucial to get your payroll taxes and deductions correct in Kenya and elsewhere in the world. Book a demo with Skuad to see how we can help.

Request demo

tilted-arrow

Payroll compliance in Kenya

As an employer, you must understand and follow the rules listed above. Failing to do so can result in penalties and fines with Kenyan authorities.

The Kenya Revenue Authority’s website lists several penalties for late filings, failure to file, and failure to take deductions. Offenses vary in penalty amounts but tend to be between 5-10% of the amount due. 

Don’t risk making a bad impression with regulatory authorities in Kenya! You can easily avoid the penalties and additional consequences by partnering with a payroll service provider. Speak to a Skuad representative today to learn more about the expectations of your business when paying Kenyan workers.

white-bullet

Want to get started with payroll management in Kenya? Book a Skuad team demo to understand exactly what’s expected of your business.

Request demo

tilted-arrow

Payroll providers in Kenya: How to start building your team

There are a lot of risks and expenses associated with handling global payroll on your own. Not only will your business have to establish an entity in Kenya, but you’ll have to manage all related operations.

Businesses would have to find a legal professional based in Kenya to ensure all processes were compliant with relevant laws. They’d also have to remain updated with regulatory changes.

Managing confidential employee records can be intense when hiring globally. Businesses can save time and costs by working with a payroll service provider. A payroll service provider maintains confidential documents, ensures 100% compliance in all activities, and verifies salaries to meet local requirements.

Outsourcing a payroll service benefits the company in many ways. They have a partner available to help them scale their business while also reducing the stresses around legalities in another country. SMEs and startups can quickly scale operations with an outsourced provider.

Plus, you get access to benefits and systems that may not be available to a smaller business otherwise. 

Benefits of partnering with Skuad for payroll in Kenya

Skuad can help you pay contractors and employees in Kenya with an easy-to-use platform. Our system has extensive cybersecurity measures in place, so you can house employee information and employment contracts with no worries about confidentiality maintenance.

We offer a low-cost package to manage Kenyan payroll, benefits, and compliance for $199 per employee, per month. You’ll get a dedicated account manager to walk you through our platform so you can quickly learn how to approve time off, offer competitive benefits packages, and review local employment contracts written by Kenyan legal experts.

Are you ready to start hiring in Kenya?

Contact Skuad today to learn more about how we can help you scale globally. And book a free demo so you can see how easy our platform is for yourself.

Payroll in Kenya

Kenya

Payroll in Kenya 

Do you want to expand your business operations globally? Have you considered hiring employees or contractors in Kenya? You could discover a whole new world of talent with an international hiring strategy. 

Hiring globally can be a daunting and extensive learning curve, though. There are tons of benefits to hiring in Kenya, but your business must understand the payroll process before you start. 

Of course, you could save yourself the headache — and time you would spend figuring out how to navigate payroll in Kenya — by partnering with a payroll service provider like Skuad. Keep reading if you want to learn more about Kenya payroll processes and how Skuad can help you hire in Kenya faster, easier, and for a fraction of the price of going it alone.

What does the payroll process in Kenya involve? 

The payroll process in Kenya is similar to the workflow you’re probably already used to. That said, there might be some pretty significant differences around Kenyan payroll laws, tax percentages, and working hours, which we’ll discuss later in this guide. 

To bring Kenyan workers on your payroll, you’ll need to:

  • Collect the new hire’s information: When you hire a new worker, whether they are a contractor or an employee, you have to collect the necessary information. Employers must withhold income, national hospital fund, national social security fund, and national housing development fund taxes for each worker. 
  • Calculate gross pay: Gross pay is the amount of pay owed to your employees and contractors in Kenya without any deductions taken out yet. This is calculated by hours worked and rate of pay. 
  • Calculate net pay: Net pay is the worker’s gross pay with taxes and benefits taken out. This is the amount you must pay your employees and contractors. 
  • Pay your worker: You must follow Kenya payroll laws to pay workers on time each month. Your business must keep accurate payroll records, too. 
  • Submit taxes and deductions to the proper agencies: Employers are responsible for submitting the taxes taken out to the proper authorities. There are four regulatory agencies in Kenya to report to. 

The steps appear quite straightforward when listed on paper, but there’s a range of nuances and laws employers must follow to do business legally in Kenya.

Did you know employers have to submit income taxes to the Kenya Income Authority monthly? Or that employers have to submit contributions on behalf of employees and the business to the National Social Security Fund no later than the 15th of the following month? 

Taking the time needed to learn employment and labor laws in Kenya will be a costly process. If you partner with Skuad, you can alleviate the pressure and stress by letting us handle the payroll process while remaining 100% compliant with Kenya laws.  

Do you want to learn more about Skuad’s payroll services in Kenya? Get in touch with the team today.

One platform to grow your global team

Hire and pay talent globally, the
hassle-free way

Talk to an expert

What do you need to know about payroll in Kenya? 

There are several things employers must understand before processing payroll in Kenya. There are laws and expectations around the following:

  • Minimum wage
  • Overtime
  • Working hours
  • Payroll cycles
  • Leave entitlement
  • Severance pay.

We’ll discuss each of these in further detail below. 

Kenya payroll basics 

The currency in Kenya is the Kenyan Shilling (KES). 1 KES is the equivalent of .0087 USD — or to flip that so it’s easier to get your head around, 1 USD = ~115 KES. Kenyan employees are paid in a monthly payroll cycle with payments on the last day of the month. Casual workers are expected to be paid daily. 

Working hours in Kenya 

Kenya has a few different rules about working hours. While the standard workweek has 52 hours, most companies cap it at 45. For daytime employees, the maximum amount of work for two weeks is 116 hours.

Employees who work night shifts are limited to 60 hours weekly. And the maximum for two weeks is 144 hours.

Kenya does have collective bargaining agreements in some sectors that could impact the working hours. 

Overtime rules in Kenya 

Overtime is paid at 150% of hourly rates unless it is otherwise noted in the employment contract. If an employer asks a worker to work overtime on a public holiday or weekend, 200% of regular pay rates are expected. 

Minimum wage requirements in Kenya 

The minimum wage in Kenya varies based on the industry and the geographic location. The range is typically between 13,572.90 KES and 30,627.45 KES.

It’s important to understand the minimum wage requirements for your specific business. There are serious consequences for companies that pay below the minimum wage.

Speak to one of the Skuad team and we’ll clear up any confusion.

Employment leave entitlement in Kenya 

Annual leave

Employees in Kenya are entitled to a minimum of 21 paid days off after one year of employment. Kenya also observes 13 paid public holidays:

  • New Year's Day Sat, 1 Jan 2022
  • Good Friday Fri, 15 Apr 2022
  • Easter Monday Mon, 18 Apr 2022
  • Labour Day Mon, 2 May 2022
  • Eid al-Fitr 2–3 May 2022 (tbc)
  • Madaraka Day Wed, 1 Jun 2022
  • Eid al-Adha 9–10 Jul 2022 (tbc)
  • Huduma Day Mon, 10 Oct 2022
  • Mashujaa Day Thu, 20 Oct 2022
  • Jamhuri Day Mon, 12 Dec 2022
  • Christmas Day Mon, 26 Dec 2022
  • Utamaduni Day Mon, 26 Dec 2022

Once a worker has been with an employer for two months, they are entitled to 7 days of 100% paid sick leave. They can also take an additional 7 days at 50% of the normal pay rate. 

Maternity and paternity leave

Maternity leave for pregnant employees is three months of 100% pay. Workers must give a one-week notice before taking it. In the case of adoption, workers are also entitled to three months of 100% pay. In these situations, the worker must provide a two-week notice.

Paternal leave for birth or adoption is two weeks of paid leave. Parents preparing to adopt a child can receive a full month of paid leave with the proper documentation and notice. 

Severance pay in Kenya 

Severance pay is only required in Kenya in the case of redundancy. For those workers, employers are required to pay 15 days of severance pay for every year of employment.

Kenya payroll taxes and deductions 

Four authorities govern payroll in Kenya. Employers are expected to make contributions and take out taxes on workers.

The authorities are as follows: 

Employer contributions include:

  • 5% NSSF contribution with a maximum of 200 KES monthly 
  • 1.5% toward the National Housing Development Fund 
  • 50 KES per employee

Employee contributions include:

  • 5% toward the NSSF
  • 1.5% toward the National Housing Development Fund 
  • 150 to 1,700 KES for the NHIF for employees making more than 100,000 KES monthly
  • 10-30% income tax

Income tax brackets are as follows:

  • 10% for employees making up to 24,000 KES monthly 
  • 20% for employees making up to 32,333 KES monthly 
  • 30% for employees making more than 32,333 KES monthly

It’s crucial to take out the correct amount of taxes and pay them to the proper authorities on time. Connect with Skuad today to let us help you with your payroll in Kenya.

Payroll compliance in Kenya

As an employer, you must understand and follow the rules listed above. Failing to do so can result in penalties and fines with Kenyan authorities.

The Kenya Revenue Authority’s website lists several penalties for late filings, failure to file, and failure to take deductions. Offenses vary in penalty amounts but tend to be between 5-10% of the amount due. 

Don’t risk making a bad impression with regulatory authorities in Kenya! You can easily avoid the penalties and additional consequences by partnering with a payroll service provider. Speak to a Skuad representative today to learn more about the expectations of your business when paying Kenyan workers.

Payroll providers in Kenya: How to start building your team

There are a lot of risks and expenses associated with handling global payroll on your own. Not only will your business have to establish an entity in Kenya, but you’ll have to manage all related operations.

Businesses would have to find a legal professional based in Kenya to ensure all processes were compliant with relevant laws. They’d also have to remain updated with regulatory changes.

Managing confidential employee records can be intense when hiring globally. Businesses can save time and costs by working with a payroll service provider. A payroll service provider maintains confidential documents, ensures 100% compliance in all activities, and verifies salaries to meet local requirements.

Outsourcing a payroll service benefits the company in many ways. They have a partner available to help them scale their business while also reducing the stresses around legalities in another country. SMEs and startups can quickly scale operations with an outsourced provider.

Plus, you get access to benefits and systems that may not be available to a smaller business otherwise. 

Benefits of partnering with Skuad for payroll in Kenya

Skuad can help you pay contractors and employees in Kenya with an easy-to-use platform. Our system has extensive cybersecurity measures in place, so you can house employee information and employment contracts with no worries about confidentiality maintenance.

We offer a low-cost package to manage Kenyan payroll, benefits, and compliance for $199 per employee, per month. You’ll get a dedicated account manager to walk you through our platform so you can quickly learn how to approve time off, offer competitive benefits packages, and review local employment contracts written by Kenyan legal experts.

Are you ready to start hiring in Kenya?

Contact Skuad today to learn more about how we can help you scale globally. And book a free demo so you can see how easy our platform is for yourself.

Pay your remote talent in Kenya, without the hassle.

Say goodbye to the complexities of local laws, tax systems, international payroll, and contractor payments. Skuad takes care of everything in 160+ countries.

integrate

Automate payroll in 160+ countries

Put your global payroll on auto-pilot and analyze your payroll data in seconds. Pay your international team - accurately, securely, and quickly, with a single click.

automate

Integrate your payroll processes

Consolidate all things payroll on our unified platform. Reduce manual calculations on excel sheets and gain control of your payroll data. Ensure data integrity and consistency.

compliance

Enhance payroll compliance

Our global payroll infrastructure ensures compliance with local employment and tax regulations. We take the guesswork out of payroll compliance.

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Employ exceptional talent, anywhere, anytime!

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Looking to pay employees and contractors in Kenya? Skuad's payroll platform can help!

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