Traditional boats moored in turquoise water on the Kenyan coast
by

Career advice · Updated October 2026

Jobs in Mombasa: Top Employers and Where to Look (2026)

Traditional boats moored in turquoise water on the Kenyan coast
Photo: Ben Iwara / Pexels (Pexels License, free to use)

Mombasa is Kenya’s second city and the gateway to East Africa’s busiest port. Its economy rests on shipping and logistics, tourism, trade and a growing services sector, which together make jobs in Mombasa a steady search for people at the coast and for those thinking of moving there. This guide sets out the sectors that hire, the kinds of employers recruiting right now and the best places to look.

The sectors that drive hiring in Mombasa

Port, shipping and logistics

The Port of Mombasa is run by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and serves Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and beyond. Around it sit shipping lines, clearing and forwarding agents, container freight stations, transporters and warehouses. Typical roles include clearing agents, documentation clerks, logistics coordinators, truck drivers, equipment operators and mechanics.

The port is also changing. Business Radar has reported on KPA’s plan to co-invest in Mombasa and Lamu port concessions, which could bring private operators and new jobs over time. Government roles at KPA and other agencies are advertised on their own websites and listed on our government jobs page.

Tourism and hospitality

The north and south coast beach hotels, Mombasa town hotels and restaurants hire chefs, waiters, housekeepers, front office staff and tour consultants. Recent listings on JobInKenya include an assistant housekeeper at Severin Sea Lodge and a food safety and hygiene officer at Java House. Hiring peaks before the high season, so watch for adverts from about September and again before Easter. Browse hospitality jobs for the latest openings.

Health care

Private hospitals in Mombasa recruit nurses, clinical officers, laboratory technologists, pharmaceutical technologists and dentists. Recent coast listings have included a critical care nurse at Premier Hospital and dentist, pharmacy and laboratory roles at Jocham Hospital. Our nurse CV guide and clinical officer CV guide can help you prepare.

Banking, retail and sales

Banks, insurers, supermarkets and distributors all run coast operations. Recent Mombasa roles include a business banking relationship manager at Standard Chartered, sales and customer service officers at Safal Group, field marketing officers at M-KOPA Solar and branch assistants at Victory Farms. Sales roles are often the quickest way in for school leavers and graduates.

Manufacturing and technical trades

Mombasa has a long industrial base, from vehicle assembly to steel and food processing. Associated Vehicle Assemblers, for example, has advertised for maintenance mechanics. Electricians, welders, fitters and fibre technicians are in steady demand; a fibre and structured cabling contractor recently advertised for installers in the city.

Education

International and private schools recruit teachers, often for specific curricula; the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa recently advertised an IB teaching role. Public teaching jobs go through the Teachers Service Commission.

County government

The County Government of Mombasa and its public service board recruit for health, administration, revenue and technical roles. County adverts state the job group and salary scale, and applications usually have strict deadlines. Our guide on how to apply for government jobs in Kenya covers the documents you need.

Where to look for jobs in Mombasa

  1. JobInKenya’s Mombasa page. Our jobs in Mombasa page lists every current vacancy we have for the city, updated as new jobs arrive.
  2. Employers’ own websites. KPA, the county government, hotel groups and hospitals post vacancies on their careers pages.
  3. Free job alerts. Set up a job alert for Mombasa so new jobs arrive by email.
  4. Walk-ins and referrals. In hospitality and retail, many jobs are still filled through referrals and CVs left at reception. Bring a clean printed CV and copies of your certificates.
  5. Training institutions. If you need a qualification, the Technical University of Mombasa offers courses tied to the coast economy, from marine engineering to hospitality.

Tips for job seekers at the coast

  • Show coast experience. Employers value knowledge of the port, the tourism calendar and local languages. Mention them.
  • Check the location. Some “Mombasa” adverts are based in Kilifi, Kwale, Diani or Malindi. Confirm the duty station and commute.
  • Know your minimum wage. Mombasa is one of the cities with the highest statutory minimum wage band. Our minimum wage guide lists the current rates.
  • Work out take-home pay. Use the net salary calculator to see what an offer is worth after deductions.
  • Avoid agents who charge fees. No real employer charges you to be hired. Our guide on spotting fake job adverts lists the warning signs.

Key takeaways

  • Port and logistics, tourism, health, banking, retail, manufacturing and education are the main sources of jobs in Mombasa.
  • Hotels hire ahead of the high season; port-related jobs follow trade and new concessions.
  • Check JobInKenya’s Mombasa jobs page, employers’ websites and free job alerts.
  • Confirm the exact duty station and never pay to get a job.

Frequently asked questions

Which companies are hiring in Mombasa?

Recent Mombasa vacancies have come from hotels such as Severin Sea Lodge, hospitals such as Premier Hospital and Jocham Hospital, banks such as Standard Chartered, retailers and distributors such as Safal Group, M-KOPA Solar and Victory Farms, and manufacturers such as Associated Vehicle Assemblers.

Where can I find jobs in Mombasa?

Check the JobInKenya Mombasa jobs page, employers' own careers pages, the county government website and free job alerts. In hospitality and retail, referrals and walk-in CVs still matter.

What is the best time to look for hotel jobs in Mombasa?

Coast hotels hire ahead of the busy seasons, so look from about September for the end-of-year peak and again in the weeks before Easter.

Is the minimum wage higher in Mombasa?

Yes. Mombasa is in the statutory minimum wage band for the main cities, alongside Nairobi, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret, which has the highest rates.

Free tools for Kenyan workers: work out your take-home pay with the net salary calculator, check tax with the PAYE calculator, or estimate what you are owed with the terminal dues calculator. See all salary and HR tools.

Latest jobs in Kenya

See all open jobs in Kenya →