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On Wednesday January 31, Labour CS Florence Bore revealed that Kenya would be using the Regulation of Wages (General) (Amendment) Order 2022 to calculate basic minimum monthly wages.

The minimum wage structure which was prepared by the now Cooperatives CS Simon Chelugui categorises salaries according to different demographics. 

The categories include Kenyans working in cities, all former municipalities and town councils of Mavoko, Ruiru and Limuru, and the rest of the country. 

General Labourers

Kenyans queueing for jobs in Kenya.

Photo

Nairobi Review

This category includes cleaners, sweepers, gardeners, children nannies, house servants, day watchmen and messengers. 

Those working in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Naivasha, are entitled to a salary of Ksh15,202.

General labourers in the former municipalities receive a monthly salary of Ksh14,025 with the rest of the country paying Ksh8,109. 

Miners

This category also encompasses stone cutters, turn boys, waiters, cooks, loggers and line cutters. 

The aforementioned receive a salary of Ksh16,417 in Kenyan cities with those working in the former municipalities receiving a wage of Ksh14,566. 

For the rest of the category, the workers get paid a paltry 9,370. 

Night Watchmen

Those working in the cities receive a daily rate of Ksh813 translating to Ksh16,959 per month. 

For night security guards working in all former municipalities and town councils of Mavoko, Ruiru and Limuru, the monthly salary is Ksh15,722 with the rest of the night watchmen being paid Ksh9,672.

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo addressing a group of security officers on August 11, 2023

KNA

Machine Attendants

The category is broad and covers sawmill sawyer, machine assistant, mass production mechanist and shoe cutter. 

Bakery worker and their assistants as well as tailors assistants are also placed in this category. 

The salary is Ksh17,729, Ksh16,033 and Ksh12,995 for workers in cities, former municipalities and the rest of the country respectively. 

Machinist

Workers under this category are shoe upper preparers, chaplis makers, vehicle service workers (petrol and service stations), bakery plant hands, laundry operators, junior clerks and wheel tractor drivers. 

Hourly rates for those working in the cities, the hourly rates are Ksh176 which translate to a monthly wage of Ksh19,668. 

The salary is Ksh18,399 and Ksh15,043 for those working in the former municipalities and other parts of the country respectively. 

Print operators

Workers in this category are split into; Printing machine operators, bakery machine operators, plywood machine operators, sawmill dressers and shop assistants. 

Others include machine tool operators, dough makers, table hand bakers or confectioners, copy typists, and drivers (cars and light vans). 

The Kenya government dictates a payment of Ksh20,517, Ksh18,936 and Ksh15,652 for those working in cities, former municipalities and the rest of the country.

Designers 

The category encompasses pattern designer (draughts-man), garment and dress cutter, single-hand oven man, charge-hand baker general clerk, telephone operator receptionist, and storekeeper. 

Those working in the city earn a sizeable sum of Ksh23,413 per month with those working in all former municipalities and town councils of Mavoko, Ruiru and Limuru taking home Ksh18,936. 

For the rest of the country, the Ministry of Labour dictates a minimum wage of Ksh18,251.

Tailors and Drivers (medium-sized vehicles)

It is against the law to pay workers in this cluster less than Ksh25,804, Ksh23,716 and Ksh21,147 for workers in cities, former municipalities and the rest of the country respectively. 

Saw doctor and building caretakers

This is the first category of low-income earners to earn more than Ksh30,000 basic salary.

The salary is divided into Ksh31,525, Ksh29,437 and Ksh27,423 for the city, former municipalities and the rest of the country workers respectively.

An image of rental apartments in Ngara, Nairobi.

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Rent in Kenya

Cashier, Driver (Heavy Commercial Vehicles) and Salees-man Driver

The daily rate for those working in Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa and Naivasha cities is Ksh1,651 translating to Ksh34,302 per month. 

Those working in all former municipalities and town councils of Mavoko, Ruiru and Limuru earn Ksh32,280 with the rest earning Ksh30,266 per month. 

Artisans

This category is divided into Ungraded Artisans, Grade 1, 2 and 3 Artisans. 

Again, the workers are divided into tier 1 (cities), tier 2 ( all former municipalities and town councils of Mavoko, Ruiru and Limuru) and tier 3 (rest of the country). 

From top tier to bottom, ungraded artisans earn Ksh20,517, Ksh18,936 and Ksh15,652. 

Artisan Grade 3 gets paid Ksh25,804, Ksh23,716 and Ksh21,107 for tiers 1, 2 and 3 respectively. 

For Grade 2 artisans, the salary is Ksh27,870, Ksh26,579 and Ksh23,988 for cities, former municipalities and the rest of the country respectively. 

If you are a Grade 1 artisan, you will earn Ksh34,302 working in Nairobi and other cities and Ksh32,280 working in all former municipalities and town councils of Mavoko, Ruiru and Limuru. 

Grade 1 artisans working elsewhere in the country get paid Ksh30,266 monthly minimum wage. 

A Jua Kali artisan at work

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The government has set a limit on the benefits Kenyans with chronic illnesses can access in the new package established under the Social Health Insurance Fund Scheme.

According to the Social Health Insurance (General) Regulations, 2024, a patient can exhaust the funds limit set when accessing the package.

However, the regulations stipulate that the said patient will transition to the benefits under the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund.

This means that Kenyans with chronic illnesses whose benefits under the Social Health Fund package are depleted will still be catered for by the government.

President William Ruto (right) holds the umbrella for Health CS Susan Nakhumicha while making their way to Syokimau, Machakos County on November 22, 2023.

PCS

"A beneficiary suffering from a chronic illness shall, upon exhaustion of his or her benefits under the Social Health Insurance Fund, access treatment for the chronic illness from a contracted healthcare provider or health facility in accordance with the benefits package provided, to be paid for under the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund," read part of the regulations.

Through the SHIF scheme, the government repealed the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and established three new funds; Primary Healthcare Fund, Social Health Insurance Fund and Emergency Chronic and Critical Illness Fund.

The primary Healthcare Fund will purchase services from health facilities at levels 1 to 3 while the Social Health Insurance Fund will cover services at levels 4 to 6.

The Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund will handle emergency and chronic illnesses costs once the Social Health Insurance Fund is depleted.

According to Clause 27 (5) of the Regulations, emergency medical treatment includes pre-hospital care, stabilisation of the health status of the individual and arrangements for referral to health facilities that can stabilise the health status of a victim.

Some of these medical emergencies include cardiac arrest, major trauma resulting from life-threatening injuries, unconsciousness, severe respiratory distress, seizures, acute coronary syndrome or chest pains.

Others include stroke, pregnancy-related complications and ambulance and evacuation services.

For instance, a person who suffers from cardiac arrest will access services such as blood sugar test, blood gas analysis, point-of-care ultrasound, electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, full hemogram, electrolytes, and urine pregnancy test.

The healthcare provider will perform resuscitation, pacing, chest tube insertion and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission for 24 hours if need be.

Once a patient is catered for, a healthcare provider lodges a claim with the Claims Management Office for the payment of the healthcare services provided under the benefits package.

"Provided that the payments by the Authority for the provision of emergency services shall be made to a licensed and certified healthcare provider or health facility in accordance with the benefits package," read part of the regulations.

President William Ruto speaking at State House, Nairobi during the 10th Inter-Governmental Summit on December 18, 2023.

PCS

On September 22, 2023, the Supreme Court pronounced itself on the difference between an allotment letter and a title deed, this was during the delivery of a verdict in the Torino Enterprises Limited Vs Attorney General, Petition Number 5 (E006) of 2022.

In its ruling, the court noted that an allotment letter was not a valid title deed. The court further stated that an allottee cannot transfer a valid title to property unless they acquire a Title Deed through registration

Many people have mistakenly relied on letters of allotment as proof of ownership when purchasing property because they all bear almost similar details to those in the title deed, and due to this, it's important to understand the distinction.

Photo of Letter of Allotment

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Landev

Allotment Letter

It is issued by the National Lands Commission which presides over land allocation.

An allotment letter is a document issued by a property owner to a buyer, confirming the allocation of a specific property within a development. 

It's an initial document that outlines the terms and conditions of the property purchase, and it serves as proof of intent to transfer ownership.

Additionally, it includes the name of the person or entity being allotted the land, as well as any terms and conditions, including restrictions or specific use requirements.

Title Deed

It's a legal document that proves your ownership of a piece of land or property.

It includes detailed information about the property, including its boundaries, size, and the owner's particulars.

Owning a title deed means you have complete ownership of the land and the title deed can be provided in court to prove ownership.

It comes after the issuance of the letter of allotment.

Share Certificate

Share certificates are typically associated with ownership in companies and cooperatives.

They represent your ownership stake in these entities, which may own or manage the property. Share Certificates are issued to shareholders and signify their rights and interests in the company or cooperative.

Always make sure you follow the necessary steps to secure your title deed and protect your property.

A photo of a Share Certificate

Photo

Landev

Non-salaried Kenyans will be granted access to loans by the government to pay for the mandatory Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).

The draft Social Health Insurance (General) Regulations, 2024, requires all Kenyans to pay for the SHIF, whether employed or not, to enable universal health access.

In the new regulations, salaried Kenyans will be required to pay 2.75 per cent of their monthly gross income.

On the other hand, unemployed Kenyans will be required to offset 2.75 per cent on an annual basis.

A photo of President William Ruto at his office

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To cushion the unemployed Kenyans, the government will offer loans to assist them in paying their annual contributions.

Kenyans.co.ke unravels the details behind the loan scheme.

How Does it Work?

The Social Health Authority (SHA) will collaborate with the Ministry of Co-operatives, Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) and other financial institutions to provide loans to unemployed Kenyans.

This will help them pay their yearly contributions when their income is available.

The money paid on behalf of a contributor shall be remitted directly to the Social Health Authority (SHA).

Which Financing Institutions are Eligible?

The Authority will inform the members of the public on the premium financing products and the institutions listed.

How Will They Access the Health Cover?

The unemployed Kenyans will be required to pay for the insurance for a year before accessing the health cover.

What are the terms for repaying the loan?

Non-salaried Kenyans will be required to pay the amount 14 days before the lapse of the annual contributions of the beneficiary.

The interest rate for the loan has, however, not been specified.

President William Ruto (centre) and Health CS Susan Nakhumicha tour the Mission for Essential Drugs and supplies’ (MEDS) Microbiology Laboratory in Syokimau, Machakos County, on November 22, 2023.

PCS

What's the aim?

Through the scheme, the government aims to deter anti-selection.

Anti-selection is a process whereby individuals make payments to the insurance fund when they think their health risk is higher and neglect it when they are healthy.

According to the Ministry of Health, this was one of the major challenges facing the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

In this case, non-salaried contributors made payments at least three months when they required a major medical need such as surgery and stopped paying after their needs were met.

Through the new scheme, the government aims to seal the loophole. 

On January 15, President William Ruto’s Cabinet opened doors for Kenyans who have never attended classes to acquire professional certificates after approving the policy on Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). 

RPL is the process of identifying, assessing and certifying knowledge, skills and attitudes regardless of how, when or where learning occurred. 

The RPL certificate is only awarded by institutions that have been certified by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA). 

Currently, KNQA only offers certifications to four categories of institutions which have also been accredited by the Ministry of Education. 

President William Ruto chairing a Cabinet meeting at State House on January 15, 2024

PCS

Institutions Qualified to offer RPL certificates

All Kenyan universities formed under regulations set by the University Act no 42 of 2012 are eligible to offer RPL certificates upon certification. Currently, Kenya has 35 public universities.

National polytechnics in Kenya can also receive a legal order to offer RPL certificates. 

There are currently 11 national polytechnics in Kenya which include; Kabete, Eldoret, Nyeri, Meru, Kisumu and Kitale national polytechnics. 

Others include; North Eastern, Sigalagala, Kisii, Kenya Coast, and Nyandarua national polytechnics. 

Institutions Under Government Ministries

The third category of schools that can offer RPL certificates include institutions under Government Ministries with a legal order to award qualifications. 

Under this category, the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) is at the forefront of offering RPL certificates.

Currently, NITA has training centres in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Athi River. 

“Institutions established by an Act of Parliament to develop and award qualifications,” KNQA explains the fourth category allowed to offer the certificates. 

Apart from the Kenyan-based institutions, foreign institutions accredited in their home countries as qualification awarding institutions can be certified by KNQA to offer RPL certificates to Kenyan citizens. 

University of Nairobi students at a graduation ceremony in December 2019.

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UoN

From time to time, motorists often find themselves purchasing second-hand vehicles as per their budget, choice and preferences.

Despite concerns about the quality and reliability of used cars, the robust market for spare parts and repair services helps to address and mitigate these issues, ensuring that second-hand vehicles remain a practical and popular choice for motorists.

Official data from the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) reveals that a total of 62,495 vehicles were exported to Kenya in the 12 months leading to June 2023.

The majority of small businesses and households account for the biggest buyers of used cars, showing the viability of the market.

A screenshot showing the NTSA services on the eCitizen platform.

Kenyans.co.ke

To register the vehicles, they will need to use the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) self-service portal on the eCitizen platform.

This was in line with President William Ruto's clarion call for all government services to be integrated into a uniform platform for ease of accountability and transparency.

Kenyans.co.ke takes a step-by-step guide on how to register for Second-hand vehicles using the platform:

Log in using serviceportal.ntsa.go.ke

The link will take you to the eCitizen platform, where your ID number and password credentials are required.

A verification email is sent to either the email or phone contact you registered with as per the two-factor authentication process.

You are taken to the home page of the eCitizen account, which lists over 5,000 services from various Ministries, Counties, Departments and Agencies.

Scroll down to the NTSA platform (New).

After logging in, you will be directed to the dashboard which includes the services, application history, driving points and driving experience.

Click the 'services' tab, and choose Second Hand Vehicle Registration from the list of services.

You will be required to fill in four different sections; General Information, Owners, Collection and Attachments.

On the General Information, key in the expected location of the vehicle in terms of County and Sub County.

Fill in the vehicle details such as the condition of the vehicle, make of the vehicle, model, customs entry number, chassis number, body type, fuel type, and transmission type.

Other details to be filled in include driver side, rating (cc), tare weight, year of manufacture, number of axles, number plate, border point, customs office, trade movement, customs value and vehicle use.

After filling in the tab, you will be directed to attach documents indicating ownership of the vehicle. Click submit. 

A photo of the new National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) portal.

Kenyans.co.ke

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has unveiled eight changes that will be undertaken at the National Youth Service (NYS) ahead of the nationwide recruitment exercise scheduled for February 5 - 9.

According to Kuria, the eight changes are aimed at improving the service and providing job opportunities for Kenyans joining NYS.

For starters, in the new model, 80 per cent of recruits in the National Police Service (NPS) and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) will be enlisted from the NYS.

This new recruitment strategy will also be used in the search for recruits for the Kenya Forest Services (KFS) and the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS).

A photo of officers from KDF during a past operation

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KDF

On the other hand, the CS indicated that the NYS recruits will get the largest share of government-negotiated jobs abroad.

In the new model, NYS officers will make up 70 per cent of Kenyans taken abroad for jobs. 

"NYS recruits will receive paramilitary and technical training of the highest standards. 

"NYS servicemen and women will be deployed for National Service in securing government buildings, construction, engineering, water, sanitation, agriculture, and climate change mitigation among others," the CS stated.

Concerning recruitment, the CS added that the names of successful applicants will be published on a public portal to enhance transparency.

"Recruitment in the NYS will be done transparently in all Sub County Headquarters. All successful candidates will go home with their admission letters and their details pasted at the recruitment centre and a public portal for transparency," the CS stated.

NYS Recruitment

Meanwhile, nationwide NYS recruitment is set to be undertaken from February 5 - 9.

The exercise targets Kenyans aged between 18 - 24 years who attained a mean grade of D plain and above in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).

"Prospective candidates must produce an original National Identity Card, academic certificates (and avail of one set of photocopies of the same at the recruitment centre) and a certificate of Good Conduct.

"Successful candidates will report for the NYS paramilitary course at NYS College, Gigil and NYSTTI Naivasha on dates and times specified in their respective calling letters to be issued," read the recruitment notice in part.

Instant hot showers have become an essential commodity for households nationwide as it eliminates the need for one to wait for the water to heat up.

Despite their undeniable utility, cases of many individuals falling victim to electrocution have been on the rise.

Kenyans online have raised alarm over the pertinent issue, highlighting the safety hazards resulting from using the commodity.

"My friend had just been electrocuted on Thursday while using the hot shower. Currently, we're transporting the body to the morgue," one user stated on his social platform.

A picture of a multi-temperature shower head.

Photo

Lorenzetti

To curb these cases of fatalities caused by electric shock, Kenyans are installing RCBOs to prevent overload and short-circuit.

RCBO stands for Residual Circuit Breaker with overcurrent protection and is a nifty device that protects electrical circuits by triggering a disconnection whenever an imbalance is detected. The device is often placed on a fuse board.

To put it into perspective, the device protects from two types of faults; residual current and over current. Residual current occurs when there is a break in the circuit caused by faulty electrical wiring.

On the other hand, overcurrent is an overload caused by multiple devices being connected or a short circuit in the system. 

Also known as short-circuit breakers, RCBOs are efficient in disconnecting the circuit when there is a residual current or overcurrent detected.

Advantages of RCBOs

RCBOs provide a higher level of safety by combining the functions of a Residual Current Device (RCD) and a Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) in triggering a disconnection.

This means that the device can easily detect earth faults and provide protection against electric shocks.

The device further offers selective tripping capabilities, meaning that in the event of a fault, only the affected circuit is disconnected, while the rest of the installation remains operational.

According to electricians, this selective tripping helps in isolating the issue and hence reduces downtime.

The device is also easy to install by fitting into the standard electrical panel. It's, however, advisable to contact a professional to install the device. 

RCBOs cost between Ksh400 - Ksh1,800 depending on brand, quality, and size for the application and equipment that it will be used on. 

A Residual Circuit Breaker with Overcurrent Protection device.

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eBay

With the rollout of the Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC), the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) introduced a national assessment for grade 6 pupils. 

The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) certificate offered to the pupils is different from other documents graded by KNEC. 

Known as a performance report and only issued in softcopy, the certificate is downloaded by school heads through KNEC’s portal cba.knec.ac.ke. 

Particulars captured by the performance report include the assessment centre and number as well as the name and gender of the pupil. 

A sample KPSEA Certificate.

Kenyans.co.ke

On the far right of the certificate, the gender of the pupil is captured with ‘F’ denoting a girl and ‘M’ a boy. 

Unlike the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate, this performance report does not capture a passport photo of the candidate. 

Subjects tested

KNEC examines Grade Six pupils in five subjects including English Language, Kiswahili Lugha and Mathematics. 

Other subjects include Integrated Science Creative Arts and Social Studies. 

Integrated Science includes Science and Technology, Agriculture, Home Science, and Physical and Health Education. 

On the other hand, Creative Arts and Social Studies cover Social Studies, Art and Craft, Music and Religious Education. 

Grading

All five subjects are graded from Performance Level 1 to 4 with the highest number indicating exemplary performance. 

Performance Level 1 is described as below expectation and is awarded where the learner attempts to display the knowledge, skills and attitudes/values assessed and does so with assistance. 

“The learner displays the knowledge, skills and attitudes/values assessed some of the times,” KNEC remarks on Performance Level 2 which is described as approaching expectation. 

For Performance Level 3 described as meeting expectations, the grade six pupil is able in most cases to tackle assessment tasks given. 

“The learner consistently and with a very high level of accuracy displays the knowledge, skills and attitudes/values assessed,” KNEC remarks on Performance Level 4. 

Performance Level 4 is the highest academic commendation a grade 6 pupil can get and is described as exceeding expectations. 

Entrance to KNEC offices along Dennis Pritt Road in Nairobi.

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KNEC

Checking the authenticity of the certificate

Apart from having the learner's particulars, the certificate must have a school stamp and the head teacher’s signature together with the download date. 

Additionally, the certificate must have the watermark of KNEC's logo. 

We live in the digital age where it is easy to verify information on the Internet. In Kenya, we have the eCitizen platform that allows you to verify registered businesses in the country.

Registered under Business Register Services on eCitizen, one can find a list of all companies in Kenya and verify if the details the business owner sends to them are official and valid under one document.

Before you transact in any business always ensure you have a valid official search certificate referred to as 𝗖𝗥 𝟭𝟮.

However, to get this certificate, you can conduct a due diligence for as low as Ksh650 on the Citizen portal.

This not only helps you avoid fraudsters, but also keeps records of the affiliations you have been in business with.

An Image of the World Business Centre (Blue) along Tom Mboya In Nairobi CBD.

File

Here is how to:

• Go to your eCitizen portal.
   
• Select business registration services.
   
• Select make application.
   
• Under the main menu, select Official Search (LLP Search)
   
• Under the business name enter the name of the business name you were to search.
• Select the business in question.
   
• Fill in the applicant's details.
   
• Pay and download the form.

What is an Official search document?

Widely known as CR12 this is an official document issued by the register of companies detailing the existence and current ownership of a limited company.

The certificate contains the following information about the company: Name, Address, Registration number, Date of registration, Registered office of the company, Nominal Share capital of the company, nationality and shareholders division of the Directors and Shareholders.

 However, for public companies, the shareholding details might not be available.

Entrance to the Companies Registry Building in Nairobi.

File