Understand Work and Your Rights

The Goal

By the end of this chapter you will know what to check before you accept a job, the basic rights every employee in Kenya has, and how to read your payslip line by line. You will know what to do when there is no contract at all — and how AI helps you understand a contract without deciding for you.

Understand: a job offer is more than a salary

Someone offers you KSh 30,000 a month. After months of searching, you want to say yes immediately. Ask first:

• Is KSh 30,000 the gross salary or what I take home?
• What are the working hours, and how is overtime paid?
• Where exactly will I work, and what will transport cost me?
• Is there a probation period? How long?
• When and how will I be paid?
• Will I get a written contract?

A higher salary is not always the better job. Transport, hours, reliable payment and what you learn there matter too. A serious employer expects these questions.