Estimates for comparison, not tax or financial advice. Disclaimer
Africa · 2026 (1 January to 31 December 2026) tax year
What you actually take home from a salary in Kenya after income tax and mandatory employee contributions, and how it compares across Africa. Often searched as a PAYE calculator.
Before tax, for one employee. Results update as you type.
KSh 845,300
Single resident employee, no dependants
2 countries · take-home in KES
Gross salary converted at ECB reference rates, then taxed under each place’s own rules. Employee income tax and mandatory social security only. How we calculate
NSSF, SHIF and the Affordable Housing Levy all come off gross pay before the bands, and have done since 27 December 2024. Tax on the bands is then reduced by the personal relief of KES 2,400 a month (KES 28,800 a year). Employers work PAYE monthly, with bands of KES 24,000, 32,333, 500,000 and 800,000 a month, so the estimate is worked the same way.
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| KSh 0 – KSh 288,000 | 10% |
| KSh 288,000 – KSh 388,000 | 25% |
| KSh 388,000 – KSh 6,000,000 | 30% |
| KSh 6,000,000 – KSh 9,600,000 | 32.5% |
| KSh 9,600,000 and above | 35% |
Employee contributions. NSSF takes 6% of pay up to KES 108,000 a month, so at most KES 6,480 a month (KES 540 in Tier I on the first KES 9,000, and KES 5,940 in Tier II on the rest). SHIF, the health contribution, takes 2.75% of gross pay with a minimum of KES 300 a month and no maximum. The Affordable Housing Levy takes 1.5% of gross pay with no maximum.
Assumes no private pension, mortgage interest, post-retirement medical fund or life, health or education insurance (each can lower PAYE if you have it), and a salary with no taxable benefits. NSSF is shown at the Year 4 limits for all twelve months, although they began in February 2026. These NSSF rates come from the NSSF Act 2013, which is before the Court of Appeal: NSSF and employer bodies say the rates still apply, while the Law Society of Kenya says employers should go back to the old flat KES 200, so a payslip may differ. A Treasury proposal to set a 0% band up to KES 32,333 a month and remove the personal relief was not law on 3 November 2026.
Every figure is for single resident employee on a regular monthly salary, in the local currency. See the methodology for how we calculate and test.
Choose a salary for its full breakdown, or see the Kenya salary table.
| Gross a year | Take-home a year | Take-home a month | Taken |
|---|---|---|---|
| KSh 360,000 | KSh 314,325 | KSh 26,194 | 12.7% |
| KSh 600,000 | KSh 468,350 | KSh 39,029 | 21.9% |
| KSh 840,000 | KSh 619,130 | KSh 51,594 | 26.3% |
| KSh 1,200,000 | KSh 845,300 | KSh 70,442 | 29.6% |
| KSh 1,800,000 | KSh 1,243,418 | KSh 103,618 | 30.9% |
| KSh 2,400,000 | KSh 1,645,568 | KSh 137,131 | 31.4% |
| KSh 3,600,000 | KSh 2,449,868 | KSh 204,156 | 31.9% |
| KSh 6,000,000 | KSh 4,058,468 | KSh 338,206 | 32.4% |
About KSh 845,300 a year, or KSh 70,442 a month. Income tax and employee contributions take KSh 354,700, 30% of the salary, for single resident employee on a regular monthly salary in the 2026 (1 January to 31 December 2026) tax year.
NSSF, SHIF and the Affordable Housing Levy all come off gross pay before the bands, and have done since 27 December 2024. Tax on the bands is then reduced by the personal relief of KES 2,400 a month (KES 28,800 a year). Employers work PAYE monthly, with bands of KES 24,000, 32,333, 500,000 and 800,000 a month, so the estimate is worked the same way. Then: 10% from KSh 0 to KSh 288,000; 25% from KSh 288,000 to KSh 388,000; 30% from KSh 388,000 to KSh 6,000,000; 32.5% from KSh 6,000,000 to KSh 9,600,000; 35% above KSh 9,600,000.
NSSF takes 6% of pay up to KES 108,000 a month, so at most KES 6,480 a month (KES 540 in Tier I on the first KES 9,000, and KES 5,940 in Tier II on the rest). SHIF, the health contribution, takes 2.75% of gross pay with a minimum of KES 300 a month and no maximum. The Affordable Housing Levy takes 1.5% of gross pay with no maximum.
About KSh 468,350 a year, or KSh 39,029 a month spread over 12 payments. Income tax and employee contributions take KSh 131,650, 22% of the salary, for a single resident employee on a regular monthly salary, in the 2026 (1 January to 31 December 2026) tax year.
About KSh 1,645,568 a year, or KSh 137,131 a month spread over 12 payments. Income tax and employee contributions take KSh 754,432, 31% of the salary, for a single resident employee on a regular monthly salary, in the 2026 (1 January to 31 December 2026) tax year.