01Country markets

    Best recruitment companies in Kenya

    The best recruitment companies in Kenya pair Nairobi market depth with compliance cover for NSSF, NITA and the 1.5% housing levy. CareerBuddy delivers three vetted Kenyan candidates in 4 business days and can employ them through its Kenyan Employer of Record from $399 per employee per month.

    02Key facts
    Main hub
    Nairobi
    Housing levy
    1.5% employer + 1.5% employee
    Notice period
    28 days, monthly-paid
    Shortlist speed
    4 business days

    03What good looks like in Nairobi

    Kenya's senior engineering and product market is small and well-networked, so referral quality matters more than database size. Ask for the last three placements at your level, and who is actually doing the sourcing.

    • Recent placements at your seniority, in Nairobi
    • Salary benchmarking against published Kenyan data
    • A written replacement guarantee
    • Payroll cover for PAYE, NSSF, NITA and the housing levy

    04The statutory layer

    The Affordable Housing Act 2023 added a 1.5% employer levy on gross pay alongside a matching employee deduction, on top of NSSF and NITA. Contracts signed before September 2023 usually need re-issuing to disclose the deduction — an agency that does not raise this is not covering you.

    Frequently asked

    Can I employ in Kenya without a local entity?+

    Yes. An Employer of Record employs the person on its Kenyan entity and handles PAYE, NSSF, NITA and the housing levy. CareerBuddy's Kenyan EOR starts from $399 per employee per month.

    What notice period applies in Kenya?+

    28 days for monthly-paid employees under the Employment Act 2007 unless the contract sets longer. Redundancy severance is 15 days' pay per completed year of service.

    Still deciding? Talk to a person.

    Tell us the role and the market. You will get a straight answer on cost, timeline and the right employment route — no deck required.

    Talk to the team