A good house help makes a Nairobi home run smoothly. A bad hire can cost you money, peace of mind and, in the worst cases, your family’s safety. The difference is rarely luck. It is usually the process you follow before, during and after hiring.
Start with a clear job description
Before you speak to anyone, write down what the job actually involves. Families who skip this step often end up with someone who is great at cleaning but has never cared for a newborn, or a wonderful nanny who has never cooked for six.
- Main duties: childcare, cooking, cleaning, laundry, caring for an older relative, or a mix.
- Arrangement: live-in, or a day burg who arrives in the morning and leaves in the evening.
- Working days and hours, including your expectations for weekends and public holidays.
- Must-haves: languages, experience with twins or special needs, cooking style, no smoking.
- Pay and benefits you can realistically offer.
Where to find good candidates
Referrals from friends, church or your estate WhatsApp group are the most common route in Nairobi, and they can work well. The risk is that a referral often replaces checks rather than adding to them. "She worked for my cousin" tells you very little about why she left.
A reputable agency does the sourcing and first round of vetting for you, and should give you a shortlist rather than the first available person. Whichever route you take, treat every candidate the same way and follow the checks below.
Vetting: the checks that matter
- National ID. Confirm the name and photo match the person in front of you, and keep a copy.
- Certificate of Good Conduct. Issued by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and applied for through eCitizen. Ask to see a recent one.
- References you actually call. Speak to at least two previous employers. Ask how long she worked there, what her duties were and why she left.
- A medical check where the role involves babies, food preparation or caring for someone unwell.
- Next of kin details and where she lives when off duty.
If a candidate is reluctant to share references or ID, treat that as your answer.
Interview questions that reveal more
Skip "Do you love children?" Everyone says yes. Ask about real situations instead:
- "Walk me through a normal day in your last job."
- "What would you do if the baby had a high fever and you couldn’t reach me?"
- "What did you enjoy least about your last employer?"
- "How do you handle a toddler who refuses to eat?"
If you can, arrange a paid trial day. Watching someone with your children for a few hours tells you more than any interview.
Agree the terms in writing
Domestic workers in Kenya are covered by employment law, including rules on minimum pay, rest days, leave and notice. A simple written agreement protects both of you. Include salary and pay date, working hours, off days, leave, duties, house rules and the notice period. Also discuss statutory deductions such as NSSF, SHA and the Housing Levy, and check current rates with the relevant authorities.
The first two weeks
Most placements that fail do so in the first month, usually because of unspoken expectations. Walk your new house help through the home, the routine and anything you are particular about. Write the children’s schedule, allergies and emergency numbers on a sheet on the fridge. Check in briefly every evening for the first week, then weekly.
When an agency makes sense
If you don’t have time to source and check candidates yourself, or you have had a string of short placements, an agency can save you weeks. At Makao Home Care, every house help is interviewed, ID and reference-checked and asked for a Certificate of Good Conduct before placement, and we follow up after she starts, with a replacement guarantee if the fit isn’t right.
