Expats working in Nairobi will be at the heart of East Africa's largest economy. Kenya's capital is the entire region's commercial hub, and it has a strong industrial base and a fast-growing tech sector known as the Silicon Savannah. The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) is based here, and many multinationals and international organisations run their regional operations from the city.
Most expats line up a job before they arrive. Employers usually settle the contract and relocation package in advance. To work in Kenya, you'll need a work permit, which your employer will usually handle. The main one for employed expats is the Class D (employment) permit.
our employer has to show that your skills are hard to find locally and name a Kenyan understudy for you to train during your posting. The permit is tied to that one job, so you can't move to a new employer without applying again. Get your permit and visa sorted before you move.
Job market in Nairobi
Nairobi has the most varied job market in the region, as you'd expect of Kenya's capital and East Africa's economic heart. Multinationals, local corporates, banks, and a large development sector all recruit here.
Agriculture was Kenya's biggest industry for decades, and many Kenyans still work the land, although the fastest growth now is in technology and services. Nairobi is known as the Silicon Savannah, and its tech companies work in software development, fintech, data, and telecoms. Mobile money was pioneered here with M-Pesa, and Safaricom is still one of the country's largest employers. Global firms such as Google and Microsoft have set up engineering and product hubs in the city, and other multinationals run their East African operations from here.
Construction and property are busy sectors too. Tatu City and Two Rivers are two large mixed-use developments on the city's edges, and both are special economic zones, so companies based there get tax breaks. Conservation and environmental work is another draw for foreign professionals, and you'll find both volunteer placements and full-time jobs. Nairobi also has a lively startup scene.
The city is one of only four major United Nations centres worldwide, alongside New York, Geneva, and Vienna. The UN Environment Programme and UN-Habitat both have their global headquarters here, and the broader UN and NGO presence is a big draw for development and humanitarian professionals. Many foreign embassies and consulates are in the leafy Gigiri area. It's home to one of the largest expat communities in Africa, and expat children have a good choice of international schools nearby.
International Schools in Nairobi
Working in Kenya
Finding a job in Nairobi
Most expats who find work in Nairobi do so through a pre-secured contract or an intra-company transfer. These packages are usually generous. Expect a good salary, an accommodation allowance, help with transport, school fees for your children, and medical cover. Your employer will normally sort out the work permit and visa too.
If you arrive in Nairobi without a job lined up, give yourself more time for the search. Start with a strong CV. Put your qualifications and relevant experience up front.
For online listings, BrighterMonday and MyJobMag are the biggest local job boards, and LinkedIn is widely used. Check the careers pages of companies you'd like to work for, too. Networking is a big deal in Nairobi. Many roles are filled through referrals, so go to industry events and get active in professional groups online. Local recruitment agencies can help as well, and your expat contacts are often the quickest way to hear about openings and get an honest read on employers.
Useful links
Work culture in Nairobi
Anyone working in Nairobi will find a work culture that's part international, part distinctly local. English is the main language of business, so you won't face a language barrier in most offices. Standard business hours are 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Kenyans put a lot of weight on personal relationships at work, so expect to spend time on them before deals get done. Colleagues usually spend the first few minutes of a meeting on small talk about family, sport, traffic, or the weekend. Punctuality is valued in professional settings, although the pace outside the office is more relaxed. There's real respect for age and seniority, so it helps to know who the senior people in the room are.
One practical thing to plan for is traffic. Nairobi's congestion is notorious, and at peak times, you can lose a big chunk of your day to a cross-town commute, so many employers offer flexible or staggered hours. For the finer points of etiquette, meetings, gift-giving, and negotiation, see our guide to business culture in Kenya.