Career advice · Updated October 2026
Domestic Workers' Rights in Kenya: Pay, Leave and Notice for House Helps
House helps, nannies, cooks, gardeners and day watchmen keep many Kenyan homes running, yet their jobs are often agreed with a handshake and a figure. The law does not treat them as a special case. A domestic worker is an employee, and the Employment Act, 2007 applies in full. This guide sets out domestic workers’ rights in Kenya, from minimum pay to leave and notice, and the duties of the household that employs them.
Does the Employment Act cover house helps?
Yes. Section 3(1) says the Act applies to “all employees employed by any employer under a contract of service”. The exclusions in section 3(2) are the armed forces, the police and prisons services, the Coast Guard, the National Intelligence Service, the National Youth Service, and family undertakings where the employer’s dependants are the only employees. A house help hired from outside the family is not excluded.
Section 3(6) adds an important rule: the terms in the Act are minimums, and any agreement to give them up is “null and void”. A house help who agrees to “no leave” or “no off day” has not lost those rights.
The minimum wage for domestic workers in 2026
The wage order now in force, Legal Notice 108 of 2026, effective from 1 May 2026, puts “children’s ayah” and “house servant” in the general labourer category, together with gardeners, cleaners and day watchmen. Cooks are in the next band. The monthly rates, exclusive of housing allowance, are:
| Occupation | Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret | Former municipalities, Mavoko, Ruiru and Limuru | All other areas |
|---|---|---|---|
| House servant, children’s ayah, gardener, day watchman | KSh 18,047.40 | KSh 16,650.95 | KSh 9,628.07 |
| Cook | KSh 19,491.33 | KSh 17,046.83 | KSh 11,124.42 |
| Night watchman | KSh 20,133.72 | KSh 18,665.88 | KSh 11,483.43 |
Daily rates for day workers paid by the day are also set; a general labourer in the cities is entitled to at least KSh 868.44 a day, which already includes housing allowance. Our minimum wage guide has the full table.
Live-in or live-out: the housing rule
Section 31 requires an employer to provide reasonable housing or pay a sufficient rent allowance. For workers under the Regulation of Wages (General) Order, paragraph 4 sets that allowance at 15% of the basic minimum wage for monthly-paid workers who are not given free housing.
- A live-in house help given a room is provided with housing, so the 15% does not apply.
- A live-out house help on a monthly contract who is not housed must get at least the basic minimum plus 15%. In Nairobi, that is at least KSh 20,754.51 a month.
Our housing allowance guide explains the rule in detail.
Working hours and the weekly day off
Section 27(2) entitles every employee to at least one rest day in every seven days. Under paragraph 5 of the wage order, the normal working week is up to 52 hours spread over six days, and work beyond that is overtime, paid at 1.5 times the normal hourly rate under paragraph 6. Work on the rest day or a public holiday is paid at twice the hourly rate. For a live-in worker, the practical test is simple: there must be a full day off each week, and long days every day of the week add up to overtime. See our guide to working hours and overtime.
Leave
- Annual leave: at least 21 working days with full pay after every 12 consecutive months of service (s.28). If employment ends partway through a year after at least two months, the worker earns 1.75 days for each completed month. See our annual leave guide.
- Sick leave: after two consecutive months of service, at least seven days on full pay and then seven days on half pay in each 12 months, with a medical certificate (s.30). See our sick leave guide.
- Maternity leave: three months with full pay (s.29), and a house help cannot be dismissed because of pregnancy (s.46(a)). See our maternity leave guide.
A written contract
Section 9(1) requires a contract to be in writing if it is for three months or more. Most house help jobs are open-ended, so a written contract is required. Section 10 lists what it must include, such as the job, pay, hours and leave. If the worker cannot read the language of the contract, section 9(4) requires it to be explained in a language they understand. Our employment contract guide lists every required particular.
Payslips, deductions and statutory contributions
Section 20 requires a written pay statement each time wages are paid, showing the gross amount and each deduction. Section 19 limits deductions: an employer cannot simply deduct the cost of a broken plate or a lost item. Our salary deductions guide explains what is allowed.
A house help is an employee for NSSF, SHIF and the Housing Levy, so the household, as the employer, is responsible for registering and remitting them. Use the net salary calculator to work out the deductions and the take-home pay.
Injury at work
Under the Work Injury Benefits Act, an employer must insure employees against work injuries. Section 5(3)(a) of that Act excludes a person whose employment is “of a casual nature” and who is employed otherwise than for the employer’s trade or business. That exclusion covers casual help, not a regular, full-time house help. Our work injury compensation guide explains the claims process.
Ending the job: notice and final dues
Under section 35(1)(c), a contract paid monthly can be ended by either side with 28 days’ written notice, or pay in lieu under section 36. A worker paid daily can be ended at the close of any day. Before dismissing a house help for misconduct, the employer must explain the reason and hear the worker’s side under section 41, however small the household. Our guides on termination notice and disciplinary hearings cover both steps.
On leaving, a house help who worked four weeks or more is entitled to a certificate of service under section 51, plus any unpaid wages, pay for untaken leave, and notice pay if notice was not given. The terminal dues calculator adds these up.
If a domestic worker is not paid
- Ask for the wages in writing, by SMS or WhatsApp if that is how you communicate, and keep the messages.
- Collect any evidence of pay: M-Pesa statements are often the best proof of salary and start date.
- Complain to the county labour officer, who can summon the employer, or file at the Employment and Labour Relations Court. Our step-by-step filing guide explains both routes.
Many Kenyans also take domestic jobs in the Gulf. If you are considering it, use only licensed agencies; Business Radar explains how to check whether a recruitment agency is licensed by NEA.
Key takeaways
- Domestic workers are employees under the Employment Act, with the same minimum rights as anyone else.
- From 1 May 2026, a house servant or ayah in the five cities is owed at least KSh 18,047.40 a month, plus 15% if not housed.
- Every domestic worker is entitled to a weekly rest day, 21 days of annual leave, sick leave and maternity leave.
- A job of three months or more needs a written contract, and monthly-paid workers are owed 28 days’ notice.
- Unpaid wages can be pursued through a labour officer or the ELRC.
For the wider picture, read our plain-English guide to the Employment Act, or browse jobs in Kenya.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage for a house help in Kenya in 2026?
Under Legal Notice 108 of 2026, effective from 1 May 2026, a house servant or children's ayah is owed at least KSh 18,047.40 a month in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret, KSh 16,650.95 in the listed former municipalities, and KSh 9,628.07 in all other areas, excluding housing allowance.
Is a house help entitled to a day off in Kenya?
Yes. Section 27(2) of the Employment Act entitles every employee to at least one rest day in every seven days, and work on that rest day is paid at twice the normal hourly rate under the wage order.
How much notice should I give a house help?
If the house help is paid monthly, section 35(1)(c) requires 28 days' written notice, or pay in lieu of notice. If a contract gives a longer period, the longer period applies. A worker paid daily can be ended at the close of any day.
Do I need to pay NSSF and SHIF for my house help?
A house help is an employee, so the household as employer is responsible for statutory contributions, including NSSF, SHIF and the Housing Levy, in the same way as any employer.
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