Hire Construction Workers in Kenya

Construction Workers in Kenya We Supply

Most sites need a mix of skilled trades and general hands, so we build the crew around your programme of works.

Masons

Masons handle walling in machine-cut stone, blocks or bricks, plastering and screeds. Where the trade calls for it we check trade test certificates and NCA accreditation cards.

Fundis and skilled trades

In Kenya "fundi" covers a wide range of skilled hands. Depending on your stage of works, we can source:

• Carpenters and formwork fundis
• Steel fixers
• Plumbers
• Tilers
• Painters and decorators
• Welders and fabricators

Construction helpers

Helpers, often called mates, mix mortar and concrete, carry blocks and materials, and assist with scaffolding under supervision.

Site labourers

Labourers take on excavation and trenching, backfilling, offloading deliveries, moving materials around the site and site clearance. We look for steady attendance and fitness for manual work.

How We Source, Vet and Supply Site Crews

We vet construction workers in Kenya for trade skill, reliability and safety awareness, not just availability.

1. Read the brief

   We confirm trades and numbers, the site location, working hours, expected duration and any client or main-contractor site rules.

2. Source by trade

   We look for workers with the right trade background, using referrals from foremen and supervisors as well as our own candidate pool, and we take references from contractors they have worked for.

3. Check skills and documents

   We verify national ID and age (adults only), review trade test certificates or NCA cards where required, and ask practical questions about the work. Your site agent can also run a short trade test on day one.

4. Brief on site safety

   Each worker is briefed on PPE, basic site rules and how to report hazards, so your own site induction builds on what they already know.

5. Supply and coordinate

   We share the crew list and a named contact, coordinate reporting time and site access, and arrange replacements where agreed in the scope.

6. Keep the records

   Under staff outsourcing we keep attendance, pay and deduction records. Under recruitment only, we hand over what you need to engage the workers yourself.

Key facts: hiring construction workers in Kenya

• Casual employee: The Employment Act, 2007 defines a casual employee as someone paid at the end of each day and not engaged for more than 24 hours at a time.
• Conversion: Under section 37, a casual who works continuously for the equivalent of a month, or on work that cannot reasonably be completed within three months, is treated as a monthly-paid employee.
• NCA accreditation: The National Construction Authority accredits skilled construction workers and site supervisors. Workers without certificates but with at least two years of documented experience can apply for provisional accreditation.
• Workplace registration: OSHA requires premises used as a workplace to be registered with DOSHS.
• Accident reporting: A fatal accident must be reported to the area occupational safety and health officer within 24 hours and in writing within seven days. Non-fatal injuries need written notice within seven days.
• Housing Levy: KRA has said the Affordable Housing Levy also applies to wages paid to casual workers: 1.5% from the worker and 1.5% from the employer.

Safety and Labour Law for Construction Workers in Kenya

Sites carry real risks: work at height, open trenches, moving plant and heavy lifting. The Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007 (OSHA) makes the occupier responsible for safe systems of work, risk assessments, and the instruction, training and supervision each worker needs.

OSHA also says workers must not be charged for anything provided under the Act, so helmets, boots, reflective vests and gloves are an employer cost, not a deduction from wages.

The Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services registers workplaces, inspects sites, investigates accidents and processes work injury claims under the Work Injury Benefits Act (WIBA). Check that your WIBA insurance covers casual crews, and keep a daily record of who is on site.

The National Construction Authority accredits construction workers and site supervisors, and many clients ask to see NCA cards before fundis start. We confirm accreditation where your contract requires it.

Labour law matters just as much. Daily-paid casual work is lawful, but a crew kept on a long project can convert to term employment under section 37 of the Employment Act. For work running into months we usually suggest fixed-term contracts through our employment contract service, or employing the crew through staff outsourcing. For advice on a specific dispute, speak to a qualified Kenyan advocate.

Projects and Locations We Cover

We supply crews for residential blocks and maisonettes, commercial fit-outs, warehouse and industrial construction, road, drainage and water works, perimeter walls and fencing, and renovations of occupied buildings.

We are based in Westlands, and most requests for construction workers in Kenya come from Nairobi and growth areas such as Ruaka, Ruiru, Syokimau, Kitengela and Ngong. For sites in Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado or further afield, tell us early so we can plan local sourcing or travel.

Planning Your Site Crew and Budget

These factors shape the cost and the plan:

• The mix of skilled fundis and general labourers
• How long the crew is needed and the shift pattern
• Site location, transport and any accommodation
• PPE, tools and who supplies them
• Trade tests or accreditation checks required
• Whether we recruit only or also employ the crew

Sharing your programme of works helps us match crew size to each stage. For site clean-up before handover, see our post-construction cleaners.

FAQs About Hiring Construction Workers in Kenya

Need Construction Workers in Kenya for Your Site?

Tell us the trades, how many construction workers in Kenya you need, where the site is and when work starts. We will come back with a crew plan and a quotation.