Introduction

House helps play a crucial role in many households in Kenya and abroad. Yet for years, misunderstandings, lack of information, and inconsistent treatment have created tension between workers and employers. In 2025, house help rights in Kenya are clearer than ever—thanks to guidelines under the Employment Act, labour standards, county recommendations, and best practices used by reputable nanny agencies.

House Help Rights in Kenya (2026): Salary, Leave & Working Hours Explained

A nanny shares with her happy employer. Image courtesy.

This guide explains house help rights, expected employer responsibilities, recommended salary, leave, working hours, and fair treatment standards. Whether you are an employer hiring locally or a Kenyan house help working abroad, this is the most updated, practical, and realistic guide for 2025.

1. Who Is Considered a House Help in Kenya?

A house help (also called domestic worker, nanny, maid, or house manager) is any person employed in a home to perform tasks such as:

Cleaning
Cooking
Laundry
Childcare
Running errands
Elderly care
General home support

Under Kenyan labour recommendations, domestic workers should be treated like any other employee, with fair working conditions, pay, and dignity.

2. Legal Framework Protecting House Helps in Kenya

The following laws provide guidance for domestic worker rights:

✔ Employment Act, 2007

Covers contracts, leave, termination, and fair labour standards.

✔ Labour Institutions Act, 2007

Provides guidance on minimum wages and working conditions.

✔ ILO Domestic Workers Convention (Ratified Guidelines)

Sets international standards used by Kenyan nanny agencies and overseas employers.

While not every rule is strictly enforced at household level, they provide the benchmark for fairness.

3. Recommended Salary Range for House Helps in Kenya (2025)

There is no exact national minimum wage specifically for house helps in 2025, but the current realistic market rate across towns is clear.

Below is the standard salary based on 2025 trends gathered from agencies, households, and county-level adjustments.

3.1 Recommended Monthly Salary (2025)

Nairobi, Kiambu, Kajiado, Machakos

Live-in house help: KSh 12,000 – 18,000
Experienced nanny / baby care: KSh 18,000 – 25,000
Live-out domestic worker: KSh 20,000 – 28,000

Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret

Live-in: KSh 10,000 – 15,000
Live-out: KSh 16,000 – 22,000

Other Counties

Live-in: KSh 8,000 – 12,000
Live-out: KSh 12,000 – 18,000

These are realistic 2025 figures, not agency-inflated estimates.

3.2 Factors That Affect Salary

Experience
Baby care or special needs care
Ability to cook multiple cuisines
Working in a large home
Working for expatriates or overseas families
Speaking English or foreign languages

House helps with first aid knowledge, newborn experience, or driving skills receive higher pay.

Read: 12 Common House Help Interview Questions — And the Best Answers That Impress Employers

3.3 Overtime Pay / Extra Tasks

If the house help works beyond normal hours (explained below), employers should offer:

Extra pay, OR
Compensatory rest hours, OR
Added monthly allowance

The overtime rate is usually KSh 100–150 per hour, depending on town.

4. Working Hours for House Helps in Kenya (2025)

Domestic work is unique—each home has its own needs. However, to prevent exploitation and burnout, standard working hours have been widely accepted by Kenyan employers and nanny agencies.

4.1 Standard Working Hours

For a live-in house help:

8–10 hours of active work per day,
Broken into morning tasks + afternoon tasks,
With rest periods in between.

For a live-out worker:

8 hours per day, between 7am – 5pm, with a break.

4.2 Daily Rest and Breaks

A house help should have:

At least 1–2 hours mid-day rest
Evening rest after duties
Adequate sleep time (ideally 7–8 hours)

4.3 Night Work

If the job requires night duties (e.g., waking up for a small baby), the employer should compensate by:

Reducing daytime workload, OR
Giving a night-duty allowance, OR
Providing additional rest hours.

No worker should be “on call” 24/7.

5. House Help Leave Days in Kenya (2025)

5.1 Weekly Day Off

Every house help should receive at least one full day off every week.
Most families choose:

Sunday, or
Saturday afternoon + Sunday morning

For Muslim households, Friday may be ideal.

5.2 Annual Leave

Under labour guidelines, domestic workers are entitled to:

21 days of paid annual leave after 12 months of work.

This can be taken as:

One block of 3 weeks, OR
Split into shorter breaks throughout the year.

5.3 Sick Leave

Every house help is entitled to sick leave:

7 days fully paid, plus
7 days half-paid, if needed.

5.4 Public Holidays

Workers should receive:

Public holiday off, OR
Extra compensation if they work.

5.5 Special Leave

Many modern employers also offer:

Bereavement leave
Exam leave for those studying
Religious holidays

6. House Help Contracts in Kenya (2025)

A written contract protects both employer and worker.
It should include:

✔ Full names and contacts of both parties

✔ Salary and payment date

✔ Working hours and days off

✔ Duties and expectations

✔ Rules on phone use and visitors

✔ Privacy and behavior expectations

✔ Termination procedure (1 month notice)

✔ SHA & NSSF contribution agreement

A simple contract can be printed and signed by both parties with a witness.
This prevents misunderstandings and protects the employer legally.

7. SHA, NSSF & Statutory Benefits

While not always enforced in homes, it is recommended and increasingly common in 2025.

NHIF (Health Insurance)

Employers can pay KSh 500 per month to support the worker’s healthcare.

NSSF (Retirement Savings)

Contribution is KSh 200 per month (old rate) or the voluntary Tier II rate.

These benefits make the job professional and improve retention.

More: From Village Dreams to Nairobi Hustle: The Funny, Twisted Journey of Wanjiku the House Help

8. Housing, Meals & Living Conditions for Live-In House Helps

A house help must be provided with:

✔ A clean sleeping space

Not the store, not a corridor—an actual small room or private space.

✔ Clean bedding

At least 1–2 blankets and a mattress.

✔ Safe, sufficient meals

A worker must not be starved or limited to leftovers.

✔ Access to bathroom & hygiene items

✔ Respect & dignity

Domestic workers deserve to live in human conditions, not survival conditions.

9. House Help Duties: What Should Be Included?

Duties should be clearly defined in the contract and explained during the first week.

Common tasks include:

House cleaning
Laundry & ironing
Cooking
Childcare
Dishwashing
Grocery shopping
Assisting with pets
Maintaining cleanliness
Running basic errands

**What Should Not Be Forced on a House Help**

Heavy construction work
Lifting extremely heavy items
Handling dangerous chemicals
Walking long distances alone at night
Caring for aggressive pets
Entertaining adult visitors
Personal errands that exploit them

Boundaries protect both parties.

10. Rights of House Helps Working Abroad

Many Kenyan house helps work in:

Saudi Arabia
Qatar
UAE
Oman
Bahrain
Lebanon
Europe

They should receive:

Written contract before travel
Minimum salary (country-specific)
Medical insurance
Respect and dignity
Adequate food and shelter
No confiscation of passport
Ability to communicate with family
Day off
Fair working hours
Access to their embassy if abused

Agencies must follow labour laws of both Kenya and the destination country.

11. Employer Responsibilities

A good employer should:

✔ Pay salary on time

Preferably by 1st–3rd of every month.

✔ Provide a safe working environment

No harassment, no violence, no verbal abuse.

✔ Be clear with instructions

Confusion leads to mistakes.

✔ Train the worker during the first week

Especially for baby care and cooking preferences.

✔ Offer feedback in a respectful way

Shouting, insults, and threats are unacceptable.

✔ Allow reasonable communication with family

A 10–15 minute check-in call is normal.

Read: 15 Financial Skills Every House Help Needs to Have in 2026

12. Rights of the Employer

Employers also have rights:

✔ To expect good behavior

No theft, lying, or violence.

✔ To expect duties to be completed

As agreed in the contract.

✔ To privacy

A worker should not take videos, photos, or share family matters online.

✔ To terminate employment fairly

With a 1-month notice unless there is gross misconduct.

13. Signs an Employer is Treating a House Help Fairly

She looks healthy and rested
She smiles genuinely
She stays long-term
She speaks respectfully
She performs duties without fear
She works without being overworked
She recommends the employer to others

A well-treated worker becomes loyal, trustworthy, and hardworking.

14. Signs a House Help is Being Overworked or Exploited

Extreme fatigue
No day off
No rest
Too many responsibilities for one person
Constant fear
Lack of proper sleep
Malnutrition
No privacy
Withholding salary
Harsh punishment

These conditions often lead to sudden quitting or conflict.

15. How Employers Can Improve Working Relationships

Use a calm tone when correcting mistakes
Provide clear rules and expectations
Appreciate the worker occasionally
Support education or skills learning if possible
Offer bonuses for excellent work
Celebrate birthdays or special days
Respect her personal time
Allow holiday visits when possible

Conclusion

House helps are essential members of households in Kenya and abroad. Their rights—fair salary, leave, rest, and respectful treatment—are not just legal standards but moral responsibilities.
By understanding and respecting these rights, both employers and domestic workers build long, peaceful, and productive relationships.

A fair working environment benefits everyone.

House Help Rights in Kenya (2026): Salary, Leave & Working Hours Explained