From 1 May 2026 the lowest legal monthly wage for a general labourer is KSh 18,047.40 in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret, KSh 16,650.95 in former municipalities and Mavoko, Ruiru and Limuru, and KSh 9,628.07 everywhere else. A night watchman in the five cities gets at least KSh 20,133.72. These figures are from the Regulation of Wages (General) (Amendment) Order, 2026 (Legal Notice No. 108 of 2026, Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 160, 26 June 2026), read on Kenya Law on 25 October 2026.
How to read the table
- Find the area where the employee works, then the occupation. The schedule lists 15 occupation groups.
- Monthly figures are exclusive of housing allowance. A monthly employee who is not given free housing is owed a housing allowance of 15% of the basic minimum wage on top (paragraph 4 of the Order). Daily and hourly rates are stated in the June schedule as inclusive of it.
- Take-home is what is left after PAYE, NSSF, SHIF and the Affordable Housing Levy, worked out with our PAYE and net salary calculator at current rates. It assumes no pension, insurance or other deductions, and no housing allowance on top.
Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret cities
| Occupation | Monthly minimum | Daily | Hourly | Monthly take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General labourer, including cleaner, sweeper, gardener, children's ayah, house servant, day watchman, messenger | KSh 18,047.40 | KSh 868.44 | KSh 161.34 | KSh 16,197 |
| Miner, stone cutter, turnboy, waiter, cook, logger, line cutter | KSh 19,491.33 | KSh 936.88 | KSh 175.46 | KSh 17,494 |
| Night watchman | KSh 20,133.72 | KSh 966.02 | KSh 181.64 | KSh 18,070 |
| Machine attendant, sawmill sawyer, machine assistant, mass production machinist, shoe cutter, bakery worker, bakery assistant, tailor's assistant | KSh 20,454.86 | KSh 982.70 | KSh 188.47 | KSh 18,358 |
| Machinist (made to measure), shoe upper preparer, chaplis maker, vehicle service worker (petrol and service stations), bakery plant hand, laundry operator, junior clerk, wheel tractor driver (light) | KSh 23,350.21 | KSh 1,125.23 | KSh 209.54 | KSh 20,957 |
| Printing machine operator, bakery machine operator, plywood machine operator, sawmill dresser, shop assistant, machine tool operator, dough maker, table hand baker or confectioner, copy typist, driver (cars and light vans) | KSh 24,358.73 | KSh 1,170.46 | KSh 219.28 | KSh 21,862 |
| Pattern designer (draughtsman), garment and dress cutter, single hand oven man, charge-hand baker, general clerk, telephone operator, receptionist, storekeeper | KSh 27,796.51 | KSh 1,336.43 | KSh 250.38 | KSh 24,711 |
| Tailor, driver (medium sized vehicle) | KSh 30,634.69 | KSh 1,474.32 | KSh 272.70 | KSh 26,621 |
| Dyer, crawler tractor driver, salesman | KSh 33,820.24 | KSh 1,621.95 | KSh 303.92 | KSh 28,765 |
| Saw doctor, caretaker (buildings) | KSh 37,426.84 | KSh 1,802.29 | KSh 336.69 | KSh 31,130 |
| Cashier, driver (heavy commercial vehicles), salesman driver | KSh 40,724.23 | KSh 1,960.60 | KSh 366.96 | KSh 33,202 |
| Ungraded artisan | KSh 24,358.79 | KSh 1,171.35 | KSh 219.28 | KSh 21,862 |
| Artisan Grade III | KSh 30,634.74 | KSh 1,474.32 | KSh 272.64 | KSh 26,621 |
| Artisan Grade II | KSh 33,087.44 | KSh 1,592.27 | KSh 303.92 | KSh 28,272 |
| Artisan Grade I | KSh 40,724.23 | KSh 1,960.60 | KSh 366.96 | KSh 33,202 |
All former municipalities and the town councils of Mavoko, Ruiru and Limuru
| Occupation | Monthly minimum | Daily | Hourly | Monthly take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General labourer, including cleaner, sweeper, gardener, children's ayah, house servant, day watchman, messenger | KSh 16,650.95 | KSh 797.80 | KSh 147.45 | KSh 14,944 |
| Miner, stone cutter, turnboy, waiter, cook, logger, line cutter | KSh 17,046.83 | KSh 828.55 | KSh 149.47 | KSh 15,299 |
| Night watchman | KSh 18,665.88 | KSh 900.31 | KSh 165.26 | KSh 16,753 |
| Machine attendant, sawmill sawyer, machine assistant, mass production machinist, shoe cutter, bakery worker, bakery assistant, tailor's assistant | KSh 19,034.56 | KSh 920.44 | KSh 166.86 | KSh 17,084 |
| Machinist (made to measure), shoe upper preparer, chaplis maker, vehicle service worker (petrol and service stations), bakery plant hand, laundry operator, junior clerk, wheel tractor driver (light) | KSh 21,844.12 | KSh 1,051.62 | KSh 175.65 | KSh 19,604 |
| Printing machine operator, bakery machine operator, plywood machine operator, sawmill dresser, shop assistant, machine tool operator, dough maker, table hand baker or confectioner, copy typist, driver (cars and light vans) | KSh 22,481.83 | KSh 1,080.47 | KSh 199.98 | KSh 20,178 |
| Pattern designer (draughtsman), garment and dress cutter, single hand oven man, charge-hand baker, general clerk, telephone operator, receptionist, storekeeper | KSh 25,412.61 | KSh 1,222.22 | KSh 201.35 | KSh 22,808 |
| Tailor, driver (medium sized vehicle) | KSh 28,155.87 | KSh 1,356.02 | KSh 250.74 | KSh 24,953 |
| Dyer, crawler tractor driver, salesman | KSh 31,555.31 | KSh 1,518.43 | KSh 282.67 | KSh 27,241 |
| Saw doctor, caretaker (buildings) | KSh 34,947.96 | KSh 1,682.74 | KSh 313.54 | KSh 29,524 |
| Cashier, driver (heavy commercial vehicles), salesman driver | KSh 38,323.71 | KSh 1,844.79 | KSh 346.42 | KSh 31,694 |
| Ungraded artisan | KSh 22,481.83 | KSh 1,080.47 | KSh 199.98 | KSh 20,178 |
| Artisan Grade III | KSh 28,155.87 | KSh 1,356.02 | KSh 250.74 | KSh 24,953 |
| Artisan Grade II | KSh 31,555.31 | KSh 1,518.54 | KSh 282.67 | KSh 27,241 |
| Artisan Grade I | KSh 38,323.71 | KSh 1,844.79 | KSh 346.42 | KSh 31,694 |
All other areas
| Occupation | Monthly minimum | Daily | Hourly | Monthly take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General labourer, including cleaner, sweeper, gardener, children's ayah, house servant, day watchman, messenger | KSh 9,628.07 | KSh 487.94 | KSh 90.17 | KSh 8,606 |
| Miner, stone cutter, turnboy, waiter, cook, logger, line cutter | KSh 11,124.42 | KSh 549.91 | KSh 100.56 | KSh 9,984 |
| Night watchman | KSh 11,483.43 | KSh 554.07 | KSh 105.90 | KSh 10,306 |
| Machine attendant, sawmill sawyer, machine assistant, mass production machinist, shoe cutter, bakery worker, bakery assistant, tailor's assistant | KSh 15,427.97 | KSh 745.15 | KSh 138.66 | KSh 13,847 |
| Machinist (made to measure), shoe upper preparer, chaplis maker, vehicle service worker (petrol and service stations), bakery plant hand, laundry operator, junior clerk, wheel tractor driver (light) | KSh 17,859.17 | KSh 863.75 | KSh 161.34 | KSh 16,028 |
| Printing machine operator, bakery machine operator, plywood machine operator, sawmill dresser, shop assistant, machine tool operator, dough maker, table hand baker or confectioner, copy typist, driver (cars and light vans) | KSh 18,582.41 | KSh 892.89 | KSh 165.14 | KSh 16,677 |
| Pattern designer (draughtsman), garment and dress cutter, single hand oven man, charge-hand baker, general clerk, telephone operator, receptionist, storekeeper | KSh 21,668.18 | KSh 1,038.68 | KSh 194.58 | KSh 19,447 |
| Tailor, driver (medium sized vehicle) | KSh 25,105.72 | KSh 1,225.84 | KSh 225.03 | KSh 22,533 |
| Dyer, crawler tractor driver, salesman | KSh 28,479.38 | KSh 1,367.54 | KSh 251.09 | KSh 25,170 |
| Saw doctor, caretaker (buildings) | KSh 32,556.94 | KSh 1,564.97 | KSh 291.10 | KSh 27,916 |
| Cashier, driver (heavy commercial vehicles), salesman driver | KSh 35,932.75 | KSh 1,727.26 | KSh 323.16 | KSh 30,187 |
| Ungraded artisan | KSh 18,582.77 | KSh 892.89 | KSh 166.15 | KSh 16,678 |
| Artisan Grade III | KSh 25,058.23 | KSh 1,225.90 | KSh 225.15 | KSh 22,490 |
| Artisan Grade II | KSh 28,479.38 | KSh 1,367.06 | KSh 251.39 | KSh 25,170 |
| Artisan Grade I | KSh 35,932.86 | KSh 1,727.14 | KSh 323.27 | KSh 30,187 |
Agricultural workers
Farm workers are covered by a separate order, the Regulation of Wages (Agricultural Industry) (Amendment) Order, 2026 (Legal Notice No. 109 of 2026, Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 160, 26 June 2026), also in force from 1 May 2026. Its figures are consolidated wages and do not vary by area.
| Occupation | Monthly | Daily | Monthly take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unskilled employee | KSh 9,196.93 | KSh 386.24 | KSh 8,207 |
| Stockman, herdsman, watchman | KSh 10,621.15 | KSh 449.81 | KSh 9,525 |
| House servant or cook | KSh 10,498.82 | KSh 399.77 | KSh 9,412 |
| Farm foreman | KSh 16,591.20 | KSh 701.11 | KSh 14,891 |
| Farm clerk | KSh 16,591.20 | KSh 701.11 | KSh 14,891 |
| Senior foreman | KSh 10,740.61 | KSh 456.70 | KSh 9,636 |
| Farm artisan | KSh 10,992.45 | KSh 467.36 | KSh 9,865 |
| Tractor driver | KSh 11,656.75 | KSh 495.10 | KSh 10,462 |
| Combine harvester driver | KSh 12,841.61 | KSh 544.89 | KSh 11,525 |
| Lorry driver or car driver | KSh 13,476.47 | KSh 571.22 | KSh 12,094 |
The May agricultural order (Legal Notice 96) printed several monthly figures that the June order changed, for example KSh 20,621.15 for a stockman, herdsman or watchman, now KSh 10,621.15, and KSh 26,591.20 for a farm foreman or clerk, now KSh 16,591.20. Use the June figures above.
What a minimum-wage worker actually takes home
On KSh 18,047.40 in the five cities, the deductions are NSSF KSh 1,083, SHIF KSh 496 and the Housing Levy KSh 271. PAYE is KSh 0 because the KSh 2,400 personal relief is larger than the tax. That leaves about KSh 16,197. Outside the towns, on KSh 9,628.07, take-home is about KSh 8,606.
See how each deduction is set on our KRA tax rates 2026 page, or run any salary through the net salary calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Nairobi in 2026?
For a general labourer, house servant, cleaner, gardener or day watchman in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru or Eldoret it is KSh 18,047.40 a month from 1 May 2026, before any housing allowance. A night watchman in those cities gets at least KSh 20,133.72.
Is it 9,268 or 9,628 for areas outside the towns?
KSh 9,628.07. The first notice in May (Legal Notice 95) printed 9,268.07. The government gazetted the schedule again on 26 June 2026 (Legal Notice 108) with 9,628.07, and the later schedule replaced the earlier one.
When did the 2026 minimum wages start?
Both orders say they are deemed to have come into operation on 1 May 2026, so pay from May 2026 should be at or above these rates even though the orders were published later.
Does the minimum wage include house allowance?
No. The schedule says the monthly figures are exclusive of housing allowance. Paragraph 4 of the Order says a monthly employee who is not given free housing must also be paid a housing allowance of 15% of the basic minimum wage. The daily and hourly rates in the June schedule are stated as inclusive of it.
Does a worker on minimum wage pay PAYE?
Not at these levels. On KSh 18,047.40, the personal relief of KSh 2,400 cancels the tax. NSSF, SHIF and the Housing Levy still come off, which is why take-home is about KSh 16,197.
Sources
- Regulation of Wages (General) (Amendment) Order, 2026, Legal Notice No. 108 of 2026 (Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 160, 26 June 2026), Kenya Law, read 25 October 2026.
- Regulation of Wages (Agricultural Industry) (Amendment) Order, 2026, Legal Notice No. 109 of 2026 (Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 160, 26 June 2026), Kenya Law, read 25 October 2026.
- Legal Notice No. 95 of 2026 and Legal Notice No. 96 of 2026 (Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 128, 29 May 2026), the first versions, replaced by the June schedules.
- Regulation of Wages (General) Order, Legal Notice No. 120 of 1982 (Kenya Law consolidated version of 26 June 2026, which carries the June schedule and lists both 2026 notices in its history): paragraph 4, housing allowance. Read 25 October 2026.
- Take-home pay: paybillke PAYE engine, using KRA's PAYE bands and reliefs, SHA's 2.75% SHIF rate, the 1.5% Affordable Housing Levy and NSSF Year 4 limits. Sources for each are on the KRA tax rates 2026 page.
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