Minimum Wage Checker Kenya 2026

How the minimum wage is set

Kenya does not have a single national minimum wage. The Cabinet Secretary for Labour issues Regulation of Wages Orders under the Labour Institutions Act, which set minimum monthly (and sometimes daily and hourly) pay for different groups of workers. The amount depends on where the work is done, with higher minimums in the cities of Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu than in other municipalities and rural areas, and on the type of job, such as general labourer, cleaner, gardener, night watchman, driver or shop assistant. Orders are usually revised every year or two, often with a percentage increase announced around Labour Day.

Separate orders exist for some sectors, such as agriculture, and for domestic workers, and the amounts are usually published in the Kenya Gazette.

How the checker works

You choose the area where you work, your job category and your monthly basic pay. The calculator looks up the gazetted minimum for that combination in the rates held for this site and tells you whether your pay meets it and by how much.

Important: the table is only partly loaded

The gazetted tables are large, and the minimums depend on the specific order in force. At present only part of the table has been loaded. When you pick a combination that has not been loaded, the calculator says so and does not give a verdict, because a wrong answer is worse than no answer. The values that are loaded are labelled as unverified until they have been checked against the Gazette notice; once checked, the "last verified" badge appears on the page.

What counts as basic pay

The minimum wage applies to basic pay. Allowances such as housing, if set out separately in the order, may be counted differently, and some orders state a separate house allowance. If your contract combines basic pay and allowances into one figure, ask which part the order treats as the wage.

If your pay is below the minimum

1. Check the correct order for your sector and area, and the date it took effect.
2. Raise it politely with your employer in writing, with the order's reference.
3. If it is not fixed, contact the labour officer at your county labour office, who can inspect and require compliance.
4. If necessary, take the matter to the Employment and Labour Relations Court.

Paying below the minimum wage is an offence, and employers may be liable for arrears. There are time limits for claims, so act promptly.

For employers

Employers should keep the current order on file, review pay after each new order, and pay the increase from the date stated in the notice. The statutory deductions in the PAYE calculator still apply to minimum-wage pay, though many low earners pay little or no income tax after personal relief.

About the figures

Wages orders change, and some have been challenged in court, so confirm the amount currently in force with the Ministry of Labour or your county labour office. This tool is a guide for information only and not legal advice.

Domestic workers and special sectors

Domestic workers, agricultural workers and some other groups are covered by their own wage orders, which may state different amounts and conditions, such as allowances for housing or meals. If you employ a domestic worker, check the order for the category, such as a cook, a housekeeper or a gardener, and the area. Also check statutory deductions: employers must register domestic workers with NSSF and SHA like any other employee. Written contracts and payslips protect both sides.

If you are an employee and unsure which order applies to you, ask your employer for the job category stated in your contract and compare it with the Gazette notice. The county labour office can also tell you which wage order covers your sector, and the service is free.

Guides, tools and templates for this topic

Read next: How PAYE is calculated in Kenya, step by step, NSSF contributions explained: tiers, limits and what you pay, Gross pay versus net pay: how to negotiate a salary in Kenya

Related calculators: PAYE Calculator, Overtime Pay Calculator, Severance, Notice and Leave Pay Calculator

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