Caretakers are among the higher-earning workers in the domestic and general labour category, according to the latest wage and earnings data published by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS).
According to the KNBS Statistical Abstract 2025, the minimum gazetted monthly basic wages for caretakers are set at Ksh 33,416.8 in major cities, which is well above those of most household-based domestic workers in 2024.
For caretakers working in former municipalities and town councils such as Ruiru, Mavoko, and Limuru, the corresponding average monthly basic minimum wage was Ksh 31,203.5, while in other towns, KNBS data shows that caretakers earned an average gazetted monthly basic minimum wage of KSh 29,068.7.
It is worth noting that the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection defines a caretaker as a person who takes responsibility for the maintenance of a building, which is a distinction from a security guard, whose role mainly revolves around providing security.
With this in mind, the basic wage of a watchman in Nairobi in 2024 was Ksh 16,113.8, while in other major cities, watchmen averaged an income of Ksh 14,866.9, excluding housing allowance. In all other towns, security guards earned Ksh 8,596.5.
A look at the wages of other employees in the domestic worker category showed a stark contrast in wages compared to caretakers.
Labourers, including cleaners, sweepers, gardeners and other house servants, have significantly lower earnings as they make an average monthly of Ksh 16,113, excluding housing allowance.
It gets lower in Municipalities and Town Councils, where general labourers earned Ksh 14,866.9 per month, while in other towns, the wage dropped sharply to Ksh 8,596.5.
KNBS data also showed the domestic worker sector employed 120,153 people in 2024 , suggesting that a substantial workforce depends on these jobs for a living. The recorded total annual earnings in this sector rose to Ksh 42.5 billion in 2024 from Ksh 34.2 billion five years ago.
Interestingly, caretaker wages are also notably higher than those of drivers or medium-sized vehicles, who earn an average of Ksh 27,352 as per the minimum wages set by the government. Salespersons, who are on a wage of Ksh 30,196.6, in major cities, also earn less than caretakers.
Since the Ministry of Labour provides that these figures exclude housing allowance, it suggests that the actual compensation may be higher depending on employer-provided accommodation and other benefits.
Earlier in the year, KNBS released data showing that employees of foreign non-governmental and multilateral agencies, like the United Nations, were the highest-paid private sector workers in Kenya.
