Updated 27 October 2026
House help salary Kenya has a legal floor set by the Regulation of Wages (General) (Amendment) Order, 2026 (Legal Notice No. 95). From 1 May 2026, a house servant in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru or Eldoret must earn at least KSh 18,047.40 a month (exclusive of housing allowance). Former municipalities including Mavoko, Ruiru and Limuru sit at KSh 16,650.95; all other areas at KSh 9,268.07. Updated October 2026.
Source: Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 128 of 29 May 2026, Legal Notice No. 95 (Regulation of Wages (General) (Amendment) Order, 2026), as reproduced in publicly circulated gazette copies. Confirm the figure that applies to your zone before you set pay. This is general information, not legal advice.
House help salary Kenya: the official minimum by zone
Under the 2026 General Order schedule, occupation group 1 covers general labourers including cleaner, sweeper, gardener, children’s ayah, house servant, day watchman and messenger. Monthly rates below are the basic minimum on a monthly contract and are stated as exclusive of housing allowance.
| Zone | Monthly (KSh) | Daily (KSh) | Hourly (KSh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret cities | 18,047.40 | 868.44 | 161.34 |
| Former municipalities and town councils of Mavoko, Ruiru and Limuru | 16,650.95 | 797.80 | 147.45 |
| All other areas | 9,268.07 | 487.94 | 90.17 |
Cooks sit in a higher occupation group on the same schedule (group 2), so a live-in cook should not be paid on the house-servant line if the Order classifies the role as cook. Night watchmen are group 3.
What changed from the 2024 order
The previous General Amendment Order (Legal Notice No. 164 of 2024, effective 1 November 2024) put city house servants at KSh 16,113.75. The 2026 Order replaced that schedule from 1 May 2026. If your written contract still quotes the 2024 figure, update it to at least the new statutory minimum for your zone.
Market pay versus the legal floor
The Order sets a floor, not a typical Nairobi package. Families often pay above the minimum for childcare, cooking, or live-out day work with transport. Agency placement fees are commercial and are not fixed in the wage Order — compare any bureau quote against the statutory salary you will actually pay.
Employers who also register domestic workers for social contributions should read our guides on NSSF contribution rates in Kenya (2026) and SHA vs NHIF vs SHIF, and check registration status via how to check your SHA registration status.
Housing allowance and contract basics
The schedule labels monthly wages as exclusive of housing allowance. If the worker does not live in, budget a separate housing component where the Employment Act or your agreement requires it; do not assume the monthly figure already includes rent. Put in writing: duties, rest day, leave, notice, and whether meals or transport are provided. Keep payslips or M-Pesa records that show at least the statutory minimum for the zone.
Related household costs worth planning
Salary is only one line. Add food for live-in staff, rest-day cover, and emergency medical support. For home connectivity costs that sit on the same household budget, see Safaricom Help (Home Fibre and M-PESA). If you later hire through a small household website or classifieds page, you can compare hosting on Truehost (affiliate link).
Quick compliance checklist
- Identify the correct zone (five cities / Mavoko–Ruiru–Limuru / other areas).
- Pay at least the 1 May 2026 monthly minimum for house servant — or the higher group if the role is cook or night watchman.
- Update any contract that still cites the November 2024 figures.
- Record duty lists and payment proof.
- Register statutory deductions where the law requires you to as an employer.
Cook versus house servant on the wage schedule
Families sometimes title someone “house help” while the main duty is cooking. On Legal Notice No. 95 of 2026, cooks sit in occupation group 2, with a city monthly minimum of KSh 19,491.33 — higher than the house-servant line. Match the Order occupation to the real duties. If the worker both cleans and cooks as a combined role, take legal advice or pay at least the higher applicable group so you do not underpay against the schedule.
Frequently asked questions
What is the house help salary Kenya minimum in Nairobi in 2026?
Under Legal Notice No. 95 of 2026, the basic monthly minimum for a house servant in Nairobi (with Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret) is KSh 18,047.40, exclusive of housing allowance, from 1 May 2026.
Does the house help salary Kenya figure include housing?
The 2026 schedule states that the basic monthly wages are exclusive of housing allowance. Daily and hourly rates appear in the same schedule with their own figures; use the column that matches how you pay.
Is a children’s ayah on the same house help salary Kenya line?
Yes. Group 1 of the General Order lists children’s ayah together with house servant, cleaner, gardener, day watchman and messenger.
What if I pay below the gazetted minimum?
Paying below the statutory minimum exposes you to labour enforcement. Raise pay to the Order rate for your zone and keep proof of the correction.
Where can I read the Order myself?
Use Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 128 of 29 May 2026, Legal Notice No. 95. Public PDF copies of that gazette schedule circulate from professional firms; always match the Legal Notice number and commencement date (1 May 2026).
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