Hire in Kenya Without Opening a Local Entity
Corpshore Kenya acts as your Employer of Record (EoR), putting Kenyan staff on a compliant payroll in 5 to 10 business days. You direct the work. We handle employment, payroll and every statutory obligation under the Employment Act 2007.
Talk to us about EoRThe faster route to a compliant Kenyan team
Setting up a company in Kenya involves the Registrar of Companies, a local director, tax registration with KRA, and three to six months of administrative work before you can legally put anyone on payroll.
An Employer of Record arrangement removes that bottleneck entirely. Corpshore Kenya is the legal employer. Your team member works for your business under your direction. We remit NHIF, NSSF, Housing Levy and PAYE every month, issue payslips, and manage statutory compliance on your behalf.
From brief to compliant payroll in three steps
Define the role
Share the job title, salary, start date, and any specific terms. We draft a compliant employment contract in line with the Employment Act 2007 and the terms you specify.
We employ, you direct
Corpshore Kenya signs the employment contract and registers all statutory obligations. The employee reports to your business operationally. We handle payroll, deductions and HR administration.
Monthly billing and reporting
You receive a single monthly invoice covering gross salary, statutory contributions and our service fee. Payslips are issued automatically. KRA, NHIF and NSSF filings happen on schedule.
Everything managed on your behalf
Employment Act 2007 contract
Written contract in the prescribed format. Probationary periods, notice periods and termination procedures fully compliant with Kenyan law.
PAYE and KRA filings
Monthly Pay As You Earn tax calculation, deduction and remittance to the Kenya Revenue Authority. P9 forms issued annually.
NHIF registration and remittance
National Health Insurance Fund registration for each employee and monthly employer and employee contributions remitted on time.
NSSF and Housing Levy
National Social Security Fund contributions and Affordable Housing Levy deducted and remitted monthly in compliance with current rates.
Payslips and payroll records
Monthly payslips issued to each employee. Full payroll records maintained for the 7-year statutory retention period.
Certificate of Service
Provided to each employee on departure, as required by the Employment Act 2007 Section 51.
Common Employer of Record use cases in Kenya
UK and US companies expanding into East Africa
Hire Kenyan customer service, operations or technical staff without the cost and delay of setting up a subsidiary in Nairobi.
NGOs and development organisations
Project-based staffing for field programmes, M&E teams and community engagement roles across all 47 counties with full Employment Act compliance.
Tech companies hiring Kenyan talent
Put Kenyan engineers, AI annotators and data teams on a proper employment contract without a local entity or lengthy legal setup.
Businesses testing the Kenyan market
Validate a Kenyan operation with one to five staff before committing to a full subsidiary. Scale up or down with 30 days notice.
BPO and outsourcing clients
Clients who want dedicated named staff on their own employment terms rather than shared seat outsourcing arrangements.
Staffing agencies without Kenyan operations
Partner with Corpshore Kenya as your in-country EoR for Kenyan placements, handling all local compliance on your behalf.
Employer of Record Kenya: common questions
What is an Employer of Record in Kenya?
An Employer of Record (EoR) is a company that legally employs staff on your behalf. The EoR manages all statutory obligations: NHIF, NSSF, Housing Levy, PAYE and Employment Act 2007 compliance. Your team works exclusively for your business under your operational direction. The EoR is the employer of record on paper and on payroll.
Can a foreign company hire staff in Kenya without registering locally?
Yes. A foreign company can engage Kenyan workers through an Employer of Record without forming a Kenyan legal entity. Corpshore Kenya becomes the legal employer, takes on all employment obligations, and invoices you a single monthly amount. This is legal, widely used, and far faster than entity formation.
How long does it take to hire someone through EoR in Kenya?
Typically 5 to 10 business days from when we receive the candidate details and confirmed salary. Compare this with 3 to 6 months to register a company in Kenya, appoint a local director, complete KRA registration and set up payroll from scratch.
What statutory deductions apply to Kenyan employees?
Kenyan employment involves four main statutory deductions: PAYE (progressive income tax, 10% to 35%), NHIF (health insurance, KES 1,700/month employee), NSSF (pension, 12% split between employer and employee under NSSF 2013 Act) and the Affordable Housing Levy (1.5% employer, 1.5% employee). Corpshore Kenya calculates, deducts and remits all four monthly.
Is EoR cheaper than setting up a Kenyan subsidiary?
For teams of fewer than 30 people, an EoR is almost always the more cost-effective route. Subsidiary formation involves registration fees, a local director, annual audit obligations and ongoing company secretarial costs. An EoR converts all of that into a per-employee monthly fee with no setup capital.
What happens if I want to transfer employment to my own Kenyan entity later?
Once you have formed your own Kenyan legal entity, employment can be transferred with appropriate notice. The employee's continuous service, leave accrual and statutory rights are preserved through the transfer under the Employment Act 2007.