Live-In vs Live-Out House Girls in Kenya: Salary, Rules, Rights & What Employers Must Know (2026 Guide)

In Kenya today, hiring domestic help — commonly referred to as house girls or house helps — is part of daily life for many families and households. Whether you’re considering hiring your first domestic worker or you want to ensure that your current arrangement is fair and legally compliant, it’s essential to understand the differences between live-in and live-out house girls — including salary expectations, legal obligations, and practical considerations for both employers and employees.

Live-In vs Live-Out House Girls in Kenya: Salary, Rules, Rights & What Employers Must Know (2026 Guide)

This comprehensive, SEO-friendly guide provides factual, up-to-date insights into the domestic work landscape in Kenya in 2026. All information is based on current labour regulations, wage orders, and common employment practices.

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🧠 Who Is a House Girl?

In Kenya, a house girl or house help is a domestic worker employed to perform household tasks — such as cleaning, cooking, washing, ironing, childcare, errands, and general home maintenance. These workers may be hired on either a live-in or live-out basis.

Regardless of the arrangement, domestic workers are legally employees, not informal helpers — and are entitled to certain rights and protections under Kenyan law and wage regulations.

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🏠 Live-In vs Live-Out: What’s the Difference?

📍 Live-In House Girls

A live-in house girl lives in the employer’s home as part of her job. Accommodation and meals are typically provided by the employer as part of the employment package. Key characteristics of live-in arrangements:

• The worker resides on the employer’s premises.

• The home functions as both her workplace and living space.

• Accommodation and meals are part of compensation.

• Employer responsibility extends to providing decent living conditions and privacy.

📍 Live-Out House Girls

In contrast, a live-out house girl does not live at the employer’s home. She travels to and from work on a daily basis and receives full cash wages and, where appropriate, allowances for transport or meals not covered by the employer.

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💰 Salary Expectations in Kenya (2026)

Kenya has clear minimum wage standards for domestic workers, including house helps. These standards are legally enforceable and are structured by region to reflect differences in cost of living.

📌 Minimum Monthly Wages (2026)

Area	Minimum Basic Wage (KES)	Approx. Monthly Total with Housing Allowance
Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret	~KES 16,113	~KES 18,500*
Municipalities (e.g., Ruiru, Mavoko)	~KES 14,866	~KES 17,100*
Other Rural/Smaller Areas	~KES 8,596	~KES 9,800*

*Includes a 15% housing allowance where free accommodation is not provided.

Note: These are legal minimums — many domestic workers in practice, especially in informal arrangements, may still be paid less than these amounts.

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📜 Legal Rights & Obligations for Employers

Domestic work in Kenya is governed by the Employment Act and related legal instruments. These laws extend many basic labour protections to house girls, whether live-in or live-out.

✅ Written Contracts

• Employment lasting longer than 3 months should be formalised with a written contract.

• Contracts should include: duties, salary, working hours, rest days, leave entitlements, termination terms, and whether meals/accommodation are provided.

✅ Wages and Payment

• Wages must be paid on time and meet or exceed the legal minimum wage for the area of work.

• Employers are also encouraged to issue payslips and maintain clear wage records.

✅ Working Hours and Rest

• House helps are entitled to reasonable working hours and at least one full rest day per week.

• Unpaid long days with no rest are not legally permitted.

✅ Leave Entitlements

• After 12 months of service, a house help is entitled to at least 21 days of paid annual leave.

• Other forms of leave (e.g., sick leave) also apply after qualifying periods.

✅ Social Security & Health Contributions

• Employers are expected to register and make monthly contributions to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) on behalf of their employee.

• Contributions to the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) are also recommended to provide health coverage.

✅ Protection from Discrimination and Abuse

Domestic workers are covered by constitutional protections against discrimination, unfair dismissal, abuse, and forced labour.

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🧑‍⚖️ Rights of Domestic Workers

Domestic workers, whether live-in or live-out, are entitled to:

• Fair remuneration and timely wages.

• Rest and weekly off days.

• Decent working and living conditions.

• Privacy and dignity in the workplace and accommodation.

• Freedom of movement and personal communication.

These rights align with international standards such as the ILO Convention 189 on domestic workers, which Kenya’s regulations increasingly reference and align with.

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🧾 Why Written Agreements Matter

Verbal agreements are common in domestic work but can lead to disputes and exploitation. A written contract protects both parties by clearly setting expectations. Important points to include:

1. Job description

2. Working days and hours

3. Salary amount and payment dates

4. Rest days and leave

5. Accommodation and meal provisions

6. Notice period for termination

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🏡 Live-In House Girl: Pros & Cons

👍 Advantages

• Employer provides accommodation and meals.

• Stable daily presence allows consistent support.

• Some workers value the security of a live-in role.

⚠️ Challenges

• Employers must ensure adequate living conditions — not makeshift spaces.

• Without clear boundaries (e.g., rest days and personal time), live-in workers may face overwork.

• There’s potential for privacy concerns and social isolation if rest and communication rights aren’t respected.

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🚶‍♀️ Live-Out House Girl: Pros & Cons

👍 Advantages

• Worker retains autonomy over personal time and living space.

• Easier to define work hours, duties, and boundaries.

• Reduced employer obligations for accommodation.

⚠️ Challenges

• Worker incurs daily transport costs, which should be considered in wage agreements.

• Scheduling and punctuality depend on reliable transport.

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📊 Common Issues in Domestic Work Arrangements

Despite legal protections, real-world practices sometimes lag behind regulations:

• Many house helps still earn below the official minimum wage, especially in informal arrangements.

• Employers and workers sometimes lack formal contracts or clear records.

• Some live-in staff face long workdays with limited rest.

• Abuse, wage suppression, and withheld documents remain concerns in some cases.

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📌 Compliance Tips for Employers

To ensure a fair, lawful, and respectful employment relationship with a house girl:

✔ Draft and sign a clear employment contract.
✔ Pay at or above the legal minimum wage with documentation.
✔ Provide weekly rest days and appropriate leave.
✔ Ensure accommodation and meals are decent for live-in workers.
✔ Remit NSSF and NHIF contributions.
✔ Respect basic rights: privacy, communication, and movement.

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📉 What Happens If Laws Are Ignored?

Courts in Kenya increasingly enforce wage and labour laws for domestic workers. In one case, an employer was ordered to pay nearly KES 170,000 in back pay after unlawfully underpaying a house help for years — a vivid reminder that statutory protections are enforceable.

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🔍 Final Thoughts

Hiring live-in or live-out help in Kenya is not just a convenience — it’s an employment relationship governed by law and ethical standards. Understanding the differences between live-in and live-out arrangements, adhering to wage regulations, and respecting worker rights will promote fairness, stable relationships, and legal compliance.

Whether you’re a first-time employer or have had domestic help for years, it’s worth reviewing your employment terms periodically and ensuring they align with the latest labour standards.

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About the Author

House Girls Village & Bureau
Domestic Staff Placement Experts in Kenya

This article was written by the team at House Girls Village & Bureau, a domestic staff placement bureau based in Kenya. With hands-on experience in recruiting, training, and placing house helps for Kenyan households, we work closely with both employers and domestic workers to ensure fair, safe, and professional placements. Our daily work involves screening candidates, advising families, resolving placement issues, and promoting ethical domestic employment practices.