Last updated on August 29, 2024.

Paid Time Off (PTO) in Kenya

Vacation Leave Quota

21 days

Employees in Kenya receive (at least) 21 days of paid vacation. An employee is eligible for full vacation leave benefits after finishing one full year of work. Employees working for less than a full year are entitled to a number of vacation days based on the duration of their employment, pro rata. Employees become eligible for partial vacation starting from the 7th month of work.

Collective Agreements

Although 21 days is the minimum duration of vacation, a collective agreement (as a collective bargaining agreement—CBA) may provide more vacation days, up to 45 paid days. However, employees in Kenya receive 24 vacation days on average.

Scheduling and Taking Vacation Leave

With the employee’s approval, the employer may split the vacation days into segments to be taken at different times. Nevertheless, employees are entitled to at least 10 consecutive calendar days of vacation.

Carry Over

Carryover of unused vacation days from one year to the following is allowed. However, the remaining vacation days must be used up to 18 months after the end of the period when vacation days were earned.

Earned, Unused Vacation Days on Termination

If an employee’s job ends after finishing 2+ straight months of service within 12 months, an employee is owed at least 1.75 days of fully paid vacation leave for each month of employment. This leave should be taken consecutively.

Sick Leave in Kenya

Minimum: 14 days of paid sick leave (7 days with full pay + 7 days of half-pay) => Up to 30 days.

Employees in Kenya are entitled to up to at least 7 days of fully paid sick leave, followed by another 7 days at half-pay, for each year of service. An employee becomes eligible for this benefit after two months of continuous service in the company.

In order to have a justified paid sick leave, employees must submit a valid medical certificate from a qualified doctor or medical center.

The maximum sick leave entitlement is 30 fully paid and 15 half-paid sick days.

Maternity and Paternity Leave

Maternity Leave in Kenya

3 months (100% paid)

Pregnant female employees in Kenya are entitled to up to 3 months of fully paid maternity leave. Employers are free to extend the duration of maternity leave.

After maternity leave, the employee can return to her previous job or a similar position with terms and conditions that are as favorable as before her leave. An employee may take sick leave, days of vacation leave (with employer’s consent), compassionate leave, or another type of leave immediately after maternity leave before returning to work.

To have a valid absence for maternity leave, an employee must present a medical certificate. Also, a pregnant woman must provide her employer with a notice at least 7 days before taking the leave along with a medical certificate.

Taking maternity leave does not affect the employee’s entitlement to vacation leave.

Payout

Maternity leave in Kenya is paid by the employer.

An employee on maternity leave is entitled to their full salary (100% of the regular salary).

Paternity Leave in Kenya

2 weeks (100% paid)

An employee becoming a father is entitled to 2 weeks of fully paid paternity leave.

Payout

Paternity leave is paid by the employer.

The same as for maternity leave, an employee during paternity leave is entitled to their full regular salary (100%).

Adoption Leave in Kenya

For adoption, the same maternity and paternity Kenya leave laws apply, but the employee must give notice at least 14 days before leave to the employer instead of seven.

Bereavement Leave in Kenya

An employee may take compassionate leave in cases of illness involving relatives and friends, accidents, or especially the death of a near relative. The days taken for compassionate leave are removed from the vacation days.

Jury Duty Leave in Kenya

Jury duty leave is not specified by Kenya leave law.

Military Leave in Kenya

Military leave is not specified by law.

Voting Leave in Kenya

Voting leave is not specified by law.

Public Holidays in Kenya for 2024

Religious (Muslim) public holidays are based on the lunar calendar and are approved as the date of the holiday approaches.

Sources of Kenyan Leave Laws

1. Local Laws & Regulations, https://www.atlashxm.com/en/countries/kenya
2. Payroll and Benefits Guide Kenya, https://www.papayaglobal.com/countrypedia/country/kenya/
3. Definitive Guide to Hiring in Kenya, https://www.globalexpansion.com/countrypedia/kenya

Check out our Leave Laws page to learn more about the laws in various countries.