Kenya Leave Laws & Holidays

Last updated on August 4, 2026.

Paid Time Off (PTO) in Kenya

Vacation Leave Quota

21 days

Employees in Kenya receive (at least) 21 working 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.

Employees accrue annual leave at a rate of 1.75 working days per completed month of service.

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 two uninterrupted working weeks 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. However, employers must pay employees cash compensation for any accrued but unused vacation days upon termination.

Sick Leave in Kenya

Minimum: 14 days of paid sick leave (7 days with full pay + 7 days of half-pay)

Employees in Kenya are entitled 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.

Many employment contracts, company policies, and sector-specific Wage Orders provide more generous terms; the maximum sick leave entitlement is 30 fully paid and 15 half-paid sick days.

Still, 7+7 is legally required minimum.

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 (90 consecutive calendar days, including weekends and holidays). 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

1 month (100% paid)

An employee (male or female) is entitled to 1 month (30 calendar days) of fully paid adoption leave, starting from the date the child is placed in their care.

The employee must give notice at least 14 days before leave to the employer instead of seven (as for maternity leave) along with documentation from the adoption society’s.

Payout

Adoption leave is paid by the employer.

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

Bereavement Leave in Kenya

Not required by law.

Bereavement leave (often called compassionate leave) is not explicitly mandated by Kenya leave laws.

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.

It’s up to the company’s policy to decide the number of paid compassionate days for its employees.

Jury Duty Leave in Kenya

Jury duty leave is not specified in Kenya leave laws, as the country doesn’t use a jury system. An employee summoned by the court as a witness would have to rely on company policy or take vacation leave.

Military Leave in Kenya

Military leave is not specified by law. There is no conscription, and military service is voluntary.

Voting Leave in Kenya

Required by law.

On election day, employers must give their employees who are voters a reasonable amount of time off to go vote. The employer can’t deduct their pay for that time or punish them in any way for being away from work while voting.

An employer who refuses to give employees time off to vote — or pressures or intimidates them out of taking it — commits a criminal offense, punishable by a fine of up to 1 million shillings, up to six years in prison, or both.

Public Holidays in Kenya

(*) - Dates are movable every year according to the Islamic lunar calendar and are approved as the date of the holiday approaches.

(**) - The dates of Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday vary each year according to the Christian Church calendar.

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.