Kenya’s job market is highly competitive, with professionals in different industries earning varying salaries. While some careers offer lucrative opportunities, others are known for their low pay, difficult working conditions, and limited career growth prospects.
In this article, we explore the worst-paying jobs in Kenya, examining their average salaries, working conditions, and reasons for low pay. If you’re considering a career change or entering the workforce, this guide will help you make an informed decision.
1. Domestic Workers (House Helps, Gardeners, and Caregivers)
Average Salary: Ksh 5,000 – Ksh 15,000 per month
Domestic workers, including house helps, gardeners, and caregivers, are among the lowest-paid workers in Kenya. Despite their essential role in homes and households, their wages remain extremely low.
Challenges:
- Long working hours (often exceeding 12 hours per day)
- Poor living conditions, especially for live-in workers
- Lack of employment benefits such as health insurance and pensions
- High vulnerability to exploitation and mistreatment
2. Security Guards
Average Salary: Ksh 8,000 – Ksh 20,000 per month
Security guards, who play a crucial role in ensuring safety, are often underpaid and overworked. Most security companies pay their guards poorly while expecting them to work long shifts, sometimes up to 12 hours per day.
Challenges:
- Night shifts and extreme working conditions
- Risk of physical harm in case of robberies
- Lack of job security and poor career progression
- Inconsistent salary payments in some cases
3. Casual Laborers (Construction Workers, Loaders, and Factory Workers)
Average Salary: Ksh 300 – Ksh 800 per day
Casual laborers in Kenya, including construction workers, loaders, and factory workers, earn daily wages that are barely enough for survival. Since they are not permanently employed, they lack job security and benefits.
Challenges:
- Physically demanding work
- Risk of workplace injuries and lack of medical cover
- Unstable job opportunities (work depends on demand)
- No pension or long-term job security
4. Waiters and Waitresses
Average Salary: Ksh 10,000 – Ksh 20,000 per month (excluding tips)
Kenya’s hospitality industry is a major employer, but waiters and waitresses in restaurants, hotels, and bars are often poorly paid. Many depend on tips from customers to make ends meet.
Challenges:
- Long hours (sometimes working overnight)
- Low base salaries, forcing workers to rely on tips
- Rude and disrespectful customers
- No employment benefits such as medical insurance or paid leave
5. Early Childhood Development (ECD) Teachers
Average Salary: Ksh 7,000 – Ksh 20,000 per month
ECD teachers, responsible for educating young children, earn shockingly low salaries despite their important role in early childhood education. Most ECD teachers are employed by county governments or private schools, where salaries are rarely competitive.
Challenges:
- Overcrowded classrooms with inadequate resources
- Lack of government support and low salary scales
- Limited career growth unless one advances to higher education levels
- High workload with minimal recognition
6. Cleaners and Janitors
Average Salary: Ksh 8,000 – Ksh 18,000 per month
Cleaners and janitors work in offices, malls, schools, and hospitals, yet their salaries remain among the lowest in Kenya.
Challenges:
- Physically demanding work
- Exposure to unhygienic conditions
- Lack of employment benefits
- Low public appreciation for their work
7. Newspaper Vendors and Hawkers
Average Salary: Ksh 5,000 – Ksh 15,000 per month
Newspaper vendors and hawkers rely on daily sales, earning small commissions on each product sold. Their income is unstable and often depends on unpredictable factors such as weather and police crackdowns.
Challenges:
- Harassment from city council askaris
- No job security or consistent income
- Physical exhaustion from standing for long hours
- Harsh weather conditions affecting daily sales
8. Farm Workers and Tea Pickers
Average Salary: Ksh 7,000 – Ksh 15,000 per month
Agricultural workers, including farm laborers and tea pickers, earn very low wages despite contributing significantly to Kenya’s economy. Most of them work in plantations and rural farms, where conditions are often harsh.
Challenges:
- Poor working conditions and exposure to pesticides
- Long hours of physically demanding labor
- Seasonal employment (no job security)
- Minimal worker rights or union support
9. Boda Boda Riders
Average Salary: Ksh 10,000 – Ksh 25,000 per month
While boda boda riding seems like a profitable job, most riders earn very little due to daily motorcycle rental fees, fuel costs, and police fines. Some boda boda riders take loans to buy motorcycles but struggle with high repayment rates.
Challenges:
- High accident risks and medical expenses
- Police harassment and frequent fines
- Fuel and maintenance costs reduce profits
- No insurance or pension savings
10. Supermarket Attendants and Cashiers
Average Salary: Ksh 10,000 – Ksh 25,000 per month
Supermarket attendants and cashiers earn low salaries despite working long shifts. The rise of automation and self-checkout technology may also threaten their job security in the future.
Challenges:
- Monotonous, repetitive work
- Standing for long hours
- Low salaries with minimal career growth
- Strict work environments with limited breaks
Why Are These Jobs Poorly Paid?
1. High Supply of Workers
Many of these professions do not require advanced skills or education, leading to an oversupply of workers and lower wages.
2. Lack of Government Regulations
Some industries, like domestic work and casual labor, lack strong labor unions or government regulations to enforce better wages.
3. Limited Career Growth
Jobs such as security guarding, cleaning, and boda boda riding have limited career progression, keeping workers in low-income brackets for years.
4. Harsh Economic Conditions
With high inflation and a struggling economy, employers often cut costs by offering low wages.
How to Improve Your Career Prospects
If you’re working in a low-paying job, consider these strategies to boost your income and career growth:
✅ Learn new skills – Consider vocational training or online courses to improve your qualifications.
✅ Start a side hustle – Businesses like freelancing, agribusiness, or small-scale trading can provide extra income.
✅ Network and seek better opportunities – Engage with professionals and explore better-paying jobs.
✅ Negotiate for better pay – If possible, ask for a salary review based on your experience and performance.
While some of these jobs offer stability, they come with low salaries and challenging conditions. If you are stuck in a poorly paying job, consider upskilling, networking, or switching to a career with better prospects.
