Current minimum wage in Kenya 2024/2025 and recent updates
Details of the minimum wage are enshrined in labour laws in many countries. Minimum wage means the minimum remuneration an employer can pay a wage earner for the work done in a given period. This amount cannot be reduced through individual agreements or collective bargaining. The minimum wage in Kenya is reviewed periodically.
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In 2022, the minimum wage in Kenya was revised. The 12% increase was driven by the steep rise in the cost of living over the previous years. While the raise was less than the workers' union demanded, it was still a significant move because the last time the minimum wage was revised was almost four years prior.
Current minimum wage in Kenya
Kenya's minimum wage rate is set by the government by location, age, and level of skill. On Labour Day 2022, President Kenyatta announced the government had raised the minimum wage in Kenya from KES 13,572 to KES 15,201. This was a 12% increase.
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Since then, numerous people have been curious to know what the minimum wage in Kenya in 2024 is. It is worth noting that no significant changes have been made since May 2022, and the rates given then are the latest.
Kenyans should note that the minimum wage rates given only apply to people in the formal sector. Those in the informal sector may not necessarily follow the guidelines because market forces and individual agreements determine payments.
According to the 2022 revision, the minimum wage in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Mombasa is KES 15,201 per month. In Kenya, the minimum wage is divided into that of general workers and agricultural workers.
General workers
Here is a look at the different non-agricultural jobs and their current minimum wages in Kenya.
| Category | Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu in KES | Other major towns and municipalities in KES | Other areas in KES |
| Cleaner, gardener, general worker, house servant, children's ayah, sweeper, day watchman, messenger | 15,201.65 | 14,025.42 | 8,109.86 |
| Artisan - grade I | 34,302.74 | 32,280.75 | 30,266.88 |
| Artisan - grade II | 27,870.14 | 26,579.62 | 23,988.72 |
| Artisan - grade III | 25,804.18 | 23,716.17 | 21,107.02 |
| Artisan - ungraded | 20,517.84 | 18,936.85 | 15,652.62 |
| Car driver, printing machine operator, bakery machine operator, plywood machine operator, sawmill dresser, shop assistant, machine tool operator, dough maker, table hand baker, table hand confectioner, copy-typist, light van driver | 20,517.84 | 18,936.85 | 15,652.34 |
| Cashier, heavy commercial vehicle driver, salesman | 34,302.74 | 32,280.75 | 30,266.82 |
| Clerk, pattern designer (draughtsman), garment and dress cutter, single-hand oven men, charge-hand baker, telephone operator, receptionist, storekeeper | 23,413.49 | 21,405.50 | 18,251.46 |
| Cook, waiter, miner, stone cutter, turn boy, logger line cutter | 16,417.91 | 14,566.38 | 9,370.31 |
| Machine attendant, sawmill sawyer, machine assistant, mass production machinist, shoe cutter, bakery worker, bakery assistant, tailor's assistant | 28,487.42 | 26,579.62 | 23,988.72 |
| Machinist (made-to-measure), vehicle service worker (petrol and service stations), bakery plant hand, laundry operator, junior clerk, wheeled tractor driver | 17,229.46 | 16,033.14 | 12,995.25 |
| Dyer, crawler tractor driver, salesmen | 19,668.32 | 18,399.70 | 15,043.06 |
| Night security guards | 16,958.98 | 15,722.56 | 9,672.66 |
| Saw doctor, caretaker (buildings) | 31,525.31 | 29,437.30 | 27,423.31 |
| Tailor, medium-sized vehicle driver | 25,804.13 | 23,716.17 | 21,146.96 |
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Agricultural sector
The agricultural sector has different minimum wage regulations partly because almost all agricultural enterprises are found in rural areas. Here is a look at the updated wage structure.
| Title | Minimum wage in KES |
| Unskilled worker | 7,544.66 |
| Stockman, herdsman, watchman | 8,712.98 |
| Cook, house servant | 8,612.63 |
| Farm foreman | 13,610.46 |
| Farm clerk | 13,610.46 |
| Senior foreman | 8,811.04 |
| Farm artisan | 9,017.57 |
| Tractor driver | 9,562.56 |
| Combined harvester driver | 10,534.55 |
| Lorry driver, car driver | 11,055.35 |
The Private Security Regulatory Authority on the minimum wage in 2024
In 2024, the Private Security Regulatory Authority pushed for guards to get a minimum monthly salary of KES 30,000. Security firms responded by saying the new pay directive was punitive and illegal.
Presently, the minimum monthly salary for day and night guards is set at KES 15,201 and KES 16,959, respectively. The matter was taken to court.
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The Employment and Labour Relations Court of Kenya stopped the implementation of the new minimum monthly salary for private security guards. This means that the 2022 rates are still effective.
Minimum wage in Kenya per hour
The current hourly minimum wage in Kenya's capital is KES 63.33, assuming an eight-hour workday.
Minimum wage in Kenya in dollars
Going by the current exchange US dollar to KES exchange rate of 146, the current hourly minimum wage in Kenya is USD 0.43 per hour or USD 104.11 per month.
How much is the minimum wage in Kenya?
The minimum wage in Kenya in 2024 is KES 15,201.
What is the average salary in Kenya?
A survey conducted in 2018 showed that three-quarters of all Kenyans working in the formal sector were on a monthly salary of below KES 50,000. According to a recent survey, the average monthly income for Kenyans is at a high of KES 20,123 following recovery from COVID-19-related economic hardships.
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What is the living wage in Kenya in 2024?
A living wage is defined as the minimum income necessary for a worker to meet their basic needs. The current minimum wage in Kenya is KES 15,201.
What is the minimum wage for domestic workers in Kenya?
The minimum wage for a house cook or house servant is KES 8,612.63 per month.
Who determines the minimum wage in Kenya?
The negotiations to determine the current minimum wage are done by the government, the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) and the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE).
Is the minimum wage in Nairobi like in other cities?
No, the minimum wage in Nairobi is only similar to Kisumu and Mombasa. The three cities have slightly higher wages compared to other towns in Kenya.
When was the Kenyan minimum wage revised?
The most recent revision was announced on 1 May 2022 by HE Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, the country's former president.
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How big is the informal sector in Kenya?
The informal sector in Kenya is quite expansive. The sector employed roughly 15.96 million individuals in 2022. This corresponded with over 83% of the total number of people employed in the country.
Who are the main players in Kenya's employment scene?
The main bodies are the COTU, the Government of Kenya, and the FKE.
The minimum wage in Kenya was last revised on Labour Day in 2022 by retired president Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta. The revised rates have been implemented across the country's formal sector.
DISCLAIMER: This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!
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Briefly.co.za recently published the list of requirements for green card application in Kenya. Applying for a Green Card is a significant step towards obtaining permanent residency in the United States of America.
The eligibility criteria for obtaining a Green Card are strict. The Diversity Visa Lottery, or the Green Card Lottery, is administered by the United States Department of State.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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