Guides
Money guides for Kenya
Clear answers to the questions people ask most about pay, tax, saving, borrowing and moving to Kenya. Every figure is worked out with METRIKA's calculators and checked against official sources.
Tax & payNet salary in Kenya 2026: take-home pay for 20 common salariesWhat's left of KES 20,000, 50,000 or 100,000 after PAYE, NSSF, SHIF and the Housing Levy? A full 2026 take-home pay table, worked out line by line.4 min read →Tax & payHow PAYE is calculated in Kenya: bands, relief and a worked exampleStep-by-step guide to working out PAYE in Kenya for 2026: the 10% to 35% bands, the KES 2,400 personal relief, and which deductions come off first.3 min read →Tax & payNSSF contributions 2026: Tier I, Tier II and the KES 6,480 maximumHow NSSF is calculated from February 2026: lower and upper earnings limits, Tier I and Tier II, the new KES 6,480 maximum and what you get back.3 min read →Tax & paySHIF in Kenya: how much you pay, employed or self-employedSHIF replaced NHIF. Here's what you pay in 2026 (2.75%, minimum KES 300), how self-employed contributions are assessed, and how SHIF affects your tax.3 min read →Tax & payAffordable Housing Levy explained: who pays 1.5%, and can you get it back?The Housing Levy takes 1.5% of gross pay, matched by your employer. Here's how it works, whether it's refundable, and how it affects your tax in 2026.3 min read →Tax & payPension tax relief in Kenya: save KES 1,000 for as little as KES 650Money you put into a registered pension comes off your pay before PAYE, up to KES 30,000 a month. See how much tax you save at each salary level.3 min read →Tax & payHow to file KRA returns: deadlines, P9 forms, nil returns and penaltiesStep-by-step guide to filing your KRA income tax return on iTax, including nil returns, the P9 form, penalties and the new 30 April deadline from 2027.3 min read →BusinessTurnover tax in Kenya 2026: who pays 1.5%, and when to switch to VATTurnover tax is 1.5% of sales for businesses turning over KES 1 million to 25 million. Who qualifies, how to file by the 20th, and how eTIMS affects you.3 min read →Loans & propertyFlat rate vs reducing balance loans in Kenya: which costs more?A 14% flat-rate loan costs far more than a 14% reducing-balance loan. See the real difference on a KES 500,000 loan and how to compare any offer.3 min read →Saving & investingMoney market fund, SACCO, T-bills or bank? Where to save in Kenya in 2026Compare 2026 returns, tax, access and safety for money market funds, SACCOs, Treasury bills and bank savings, with a five-year example.3 min read →Saving & investingHow to buy Treasury bills in Kenya with DhowCSD (including from abroad)Step-by-step guide to buying T-bills on the CBK's DhowCSD platform: the KES 50,000 minimum, current yields, tax, and how diaspora Kenyans can invest.3 min read →Loans & propertyShould you rent or buy a house in Kenya? The numbers most people missRent or buy in Kenya? We compare an KES 8 million home with renting over 10 years, including mortgage rates, stamp duty and what your deposit could earn.3 min read →Loans & propertyHow much car can I afford in Kenya? A rule of thumb, with real numbersKeep total car costs under about 20% of take-home pay. See what car price fits salaries from KES 80,000 to 300,000, including insurance and fuel.3 min read →Life & plansHow much does a wedding cost in Kenya? A budget by guest countWhat a 100, 200 or 300-guest wedding costs in Kenya, from catering and venue to ruracio, and how committee pledges and saving change your share.3 min read →Moving & diasporaMoving to Kenya in 2026: work permits, tax residency and real costsA practical 2026 guide for expats and digital nomads moving to Kenya: work permit classes and fees, tax residency, SHIF, rent in Nairobi and M-Pesa.3 min read →Moving & diasporaInvesting in Kenya from abroad: a diaspora guide to MMFs, T-bills, SACCOs and landHow Kenyans abroad can invest back home in 2026: money market funds, T-bills on DhowCSD, diaspora SACCOs and land, with tax, risks and how to avoid scams.3 min read →