Working Hours and Overtime in Kenya

In Kenya, your company must comply with working hour and overtime laws – including daily limits, overtime thresholds, and rest requirements – to stay compliant and build a strong employee experience.

As an employer, you should define standard working hours in line with the Employment Act, sectoral wage orders, and any collective bargaining agreements, then monitor actual hours worked through reliable timekeeping systems. Ensure that overtime is exceptional, properly authorised, and compensated at the correct premium rates, while also safeguarding daily and weekly rest, night work protections, and special rules for young workers. Looking ahead to 2026, regulators are expected to continue focusing on enforcement, record-keeping quality, and fair treatment of vulnerable workers, so investing in clear policies, manager training, and accurate payroll systems now will reduce compliance risk and support sustainable workforce planning.

• Standard Working Hours
• Overtime Thresholds
• Overtime Pay Rates
• Daily And Weekly Rest Requirements
• Night Work Restrictions
• Penalties For Non-Compliance

What Are The Standard Working Hours In Kenya?

An employee whose age is 16 or younger has a maximum of 6 hours per day and 36 hours per week. An employee whose age is 18 or older is allowed to work 52 hours per week. A minimum meal interval of 30 minutes must be observed by employees who work more than 5 consecutive hours in a day. In typical working hours, Monday through Friday, the hours are 8:00 to 17:00.

Maximum Working Hours In Kenya

Under the Employment Act and common practice in Kenya, the standard workweek for most employees is 52 hours, usually structured as 8 hours per day over 6 days, or 45 hours for office-based roles that follow a 5-day week. You should define working hours clearly in the employment contract, including start and end times, breaks, and any shift arrangements. Daily hours should normally not exceed 8 hours for day workers, and you must ensure that any additional hours are treated as overtime and compensated accordingly. For young workers, stricter limits apply, and they must not be employed in work that exceeds the prescribed daily and weekly limits or that interferes with schooling.

Industry-Specific Exceptions

• Agriculture And Plantation Work
• Hospitality, Hotels, And Restaurants
• Transport, Logistics, And Aviation
• Security, Guarding, And Emergency Services
• Healthcare And Hospital Services
• Shift-Based Manufacturing And Processing

Managerial And Exempt Employees

Senior managerial and supervisory employees in Kenya often have more flexible schedules and may not be strictly bound by the standard hourly limits, provided their overall working conditions remain reasonable and compliant with health and safety standards. Their remuneration is typically structured on a salary basis that takes into account the broader responsibilities and the need for occasional extended hours. However, you should not assume that all managers are automatically exempt from overtime – the actual duties, level of autonomy, and contractual terms are critical. To reduce risk, clearly define in the contract whether a role is managerial or supervisory, describe the expected working pattern, and specify whether overtime is included in the salary or will be paid separately, while still respecting rest and leave entitlements.

Statutory Full-Time Working Hours In Kenya

In Kenya, full-time employment is generally based on a 52-hour workweek for many sectors, with common practice in office environments being around 40–45 hours per week. You should treat any schedule approaching or exceeding these limits with caution and ensure that employees receive appropriate overtime pay and rest periods. Part-time and casual employees should have their hours and entitlements prorated and clearly documented. Collective bargaining agreements or sectoral wage orders may set different standard hours for specific industries, so you must always check the applicable wage order or CBA for your sector and align your internal policies and contracts accordingly.

Overtime Regulations In Kenya

What Counts As Overtime In Kenya?

In Kenya, overtime generally refers to any hours worked in excess of the normal daily or weekly hours agreed in the contract and consistent with the applicable wage order or collective bargaining agreement. For most employees, this means work beyond about 8 hours per day or beyond the standard weekly limit for the sector. Overtime must be requested or approved by you as the employer, and employees should not be penalised for refusing to work overtime that is unreasonable or unsafe. You should define in writing what constitutes normal hours, how overtime is requested and recorded, and how it will be compensated, to avoid disputes and ensure transparency.

Maximum Overtime In Kenya

Kenyan labour standards expect employers to limit overtime so that total working hours remain compatible with employee health, safety, and family responsibilities. While specific caps can vary by wage order and sector, a common benchmark is that overtime should not regularly push total hours beyond roughly 60 hours per week, including both normal and overtime hours. You should avoid scheduling systematic overtime and instead use it for exceptional or seasonal peaks. Maintain accurate records of all overtime worked, ensure that employees receive adequate daily and weekly rest, and periodically review workloads and staffing levels to reduce reliance on excessive overtime.

Overtime Payout Rates In Kenya

Overtime in Kenya is typically paid at a premium rate above the employee’s normal hourly wage. For many sectors, work performed beyond normal hours on weekdays is paid at not less than 1.5 times the basic hourly rate, while work on designated rest days or public holidays is often paid at not less than twice the basic hourly rate, subject to the applicable wage order or CBA. You should calculate the hourly rate by dividing the monthly wage by the standard monthly hours used in your sector, then apply the appropriate multiplier to all authorised overtime hours. Clearly communicate overtime rates in employment contracts and payslips, and ensure that any time off in lieu arrangements are agreed in writing and provide an equivalent benefit to the employee.

Rest Periods And Breaks In Kenya

Employees in Kenya typically work around 8 hours per day and up to 52 hours per week, and you must organise rest periods and breaks so that these hours do not compromise employee health, safety, or productivity. This includes providing meal breaks during the working day, ensuring sufficient daily rest between shifts, and guaranteeing at least one full day of rest each week, with additional protections for minors and clear employer duties to plan, record, and enforce these rest entitlements.

• Meal Break Requirements
• Daily Rest
• Weekly Rest
• Minors
• Employer Duties