Seasonal work in Kenya: floriculture, farming and tourism jobs

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What does seasonal work in Kenya involve?

Kenya is one of the world’s leading cut-flower exporters, a major black tea producer and a significant supplier of avocados, green beans and coffee. Safari and beach tourism complete the picture, with staffing needs that rise and fall sharply through the year.

Most seasonal workers are Kenyans, often hired as casual workers or on fixed-term contracts. For foreign nationals, paid work is tightly controlled through work permits, which steers many plans towards volunteering or skilled positions that employers can justify to the immigration authorities.

Key regions

Flower farms cluster around Lake Naivasha, Nakuru, Thika, Athi River and the slopes of Mount Kenya, notably Nanyuki and Timau. Tea dominates in Kericho, Bomet, Nandi and around Nyeri. Coffee grows in Central Kenya, from Kiambu to Murang’a.

Tourism is split between safari reserves such as the Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo and Samburu, and the Indian Ocean coast from Diani to Watamu, Malindi and Lamu. Nairobi concentrates business hotels, travel agencies and events companies.

Season calendar

Rose farms peak ahead of Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Christmas. Coffee has a main harvest from October to December and a smaller second crop in spring. Tea is plucked all year round, with heavy flushes during the rainy seasons.

Tourist seasons

High season in the Maasai Mara runs from July to October, during the great wildebeest migration. The coast peaks from December to March. The long rains of April and May bring a low season, when some lodges close or reduce their teams.

The most common seasonal jobs

On flower farms, workers cut stems at the right stage, grade them by length, make bouquets and prepare them in cold stores before air freight. Peaks bring overtime, especially in the weeks leading up to mid-February.

Farming and plantations

Tea is still often plucked by hand, two leaves and a bud, although machines are spreading. Coffee, Hass avocados and export vegetables such as green beans employ pickers, graders and packers in packhouses near the main growing areas.

Tourism and hospitality

Safari lodges and camps hire waiting staff, cooks, housekeepers, security staff and guides. Professional guides need recognised certifications. On the coast, hotels, restaurants and dive centres expand their teams during European and Kenyan school holidays.

The Kenya Flower Council

The Kenya Flower Council, founded in 1996 by growers and exporters, reports about 130 producer members and 93 associate members, around 80% of the sector. Its farms follow a code of practice that includes social and environmental requirements.

Who can work in Kenya?

Kenyan citizens work freely. Foreign nationals, Europeans included, need a work permit issued by the Department of Immigration Services, applied for online through the government eCitizen portal. Entering on a tourist eVisa does not allow any paid employment.

Work permits for employees

The employer must show that no qualified Kenyan is available, which makes permits hard to obtain for low-skilled work such as picking. Positions genuinely open to foreigners are mostly in management, agronomy or high-end hospitality.

Volunteering and internships

Volunteering, even unpaid, requires a specific document, usually a special pass obtained in advance. Reputable organisations support this application and state the fees clearly. A paid internship, by contrast, falls under the work permit regime.

East African nationals

Citizens of East African Community countries enjoy easier movement but should still check the conditions for working with the immigration authorities. These arrangements mainly benefit Ugandan, Tanzanian or Rwandan citizens and do not extend to European nationals.

Wages and working conditions

Kenya sets minimum wages through orders: one for agriculture and a general one for other sectors. The consolidated 2025 agricultural text set the minimum for an unskilled worker at 7,997 shillings per month, or 335.86 shillings per day.

The 2026 wage orders

Orders published on 29 May 2026, backdated to 1 May 2026 with arrears payable, raise the unskilled farm minimum to 9,196.93 shillings per month, or 385.24 per day. A general labourer in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Eldoret earns 18,047.40 shillings.

Hours and housing

The agricultural order provides for 46 hours a week over six days and at least one rest day in every seven. When the employer provides housing approved by health officials, only a very small, capped deduction may be made from wages.

Contracts and contributions

The Employment Act 2007 distinguishes casual work from written contracts. Casual employment continuing for more than a month brings the protections of an ordinary contract. NSSF pension, SHIF health insurance and the housing levy are deducted from pay.

How to find a seasonal job in Kenya

Kenyans mainly go through the farms themselves, national job portals and recognised agencies. Foreign nationals should target an employer willing to support a permit application, or a properly registered volunteer programme with a valid pass.

1. Choose your sector: floriculture, plantations, packing or tourism.
2. Identify employers belonging to recognised bodies such as the Kenya Flower Council.
3. Prepare a tailored CV and, for guides, the required certifications.
4. Apply through Kenyan job portals or directly to farms and lodges.
5. Get a written contract stating pay, hours, housing and duration.
6. As a foreigner, let the employer apply for the work permit before arrival.
7. Check your first payslip and the statutory deductions.

Mistakes and scams to avoid

Fake job offers, both within Kenya and for jobs abroad, are common. Scammers use the names of large farms or famous lodges to demand fees, targeting young applicants and poorly informed foreigners in particular.

• Paying application or reservation fees for a flower farm job.
• Working on a tourist visa, even in a lodge.
• Accepting long-term casual work without a written contract.
• Skipping protective equipment during greenhouse spraying.
• Believing volunteering exempts you from immigration rules.

The answers below summarise the general framework in 2026. As wage rates were revised in May 2026, every amount should be checked against the latest notice in the Kenya Gazette or with a payroll service before signing a contract.

When do flower farms hire the most?

Temporary hiring peaks in the weeks before Valentine’s Day, then ahead of European Mother’s Day and the year-end holidays. Farms around Naivasha and Mount Kenya then step up harvesting, grading and packing.

Can a foreigner work in a safari lodge?

Only with a work permit obtained by the employer. Waiting and housekeeping jobs are in practice filled by Kenyans. Foreigners are mostly hired for management, high-end cuisine or rare skills such as specialist guiding.

Is the agricultural minimum wage the same everywhere?

Yes, the agricultural order applies nationwide, unlike the general order, which distinguishes major cities, former municipalities and other areas. Amounts were revised from 1 May 2026, so the published schedule should be consulted.

Is overtime paid?

Yes. Hours beyond normal working time must be paid at the premium rate set by the wage orders. During flower peaks, farms must record overtime on the payslip and respect the weekly rest day.